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M. Dadina

Publications and source records attributed to M. Dadina.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Time lags in the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5408 X-1: implications for the black hole mass

We present the analysis of the X-ray variability and spectral timing properties of the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5408 X-1, one of the most variable ULXs known so far. The variability properties are used as a diagnostic of the accretion state of the source and to derive estimates of the black hole (BH) mass. The observed high level of fast X-ray variability (fractional root-mean-square variability - rms - amplitude of $\sim$ 30 percent in the hard energy band), the hardening of the fractional rms spectrum, and the properties of the QPO, all resemble those of a source in a hard-intermediate accretion state. We confirm the previous detection of a soft lag in the X-ray light curves of the source during 2006 and 2008 observations and find that the soft lag is still present in the more recent 2010/2011 observations. Using the entire available XMM-Newton data set (public as of February 2012) we observe that the soft lag (of few seconds amplitude) is detected over a relatively large range of frequencies ($ν\sim 5-90$ mHz), which always includes the QPO frequencies. The soft lag displays energy-dependence, with the (absolute) amplitude increasing as a function of energy separation. We find close analogies with soft lags associated to type-C QPOs in BH binary systems (although an association to other types of QPOs cannot be completely excluded), as well as with reverberation lags observed in AGN. In both cases an intermediate mass BH (IMBH) solution appears the most plausible.

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The Hot and Energetic Universe: Astrophysics of feedback in local AGN

Understanding the astrophysics of feedback in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is key to understanding the growth and co-evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies. AGN-driven winds/outflows are potentially the most effective way of transporting energy and momentum from the nuclear scales to the host galaxy, quenching star formation by sweeping away the gas reservoir. Key questions in this field are: 1) how do accretion disks around black holes launch winds/outflows, and how much energy do these carry? 2) How are the energy and metals accelerated in winds/outflows transferred and deposited into the circumgalactic medium? X-ray observations are a unique way to address these questions because they probe the phase of the outflows which carries most of the kinetic energy. We show how a high throughput, high spectral resolution instrument like the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) on Athena+ will allow us to address these questions by determining the physical parameters (ionization state, density, temperature, abundances, velocities, geometry, etc.) of the outflows on a dynamical time-scale, in a broad sample of nearby bright AGN. The X-IFU will also allow direct spectral imaging of the impact of these winds on the host galaxy for local AGN, forming a template for understanding AGN at higher redshifts where wind shocks cannot be resolved.

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Discovery of a relation between black hole mass and soft X-ray time lags in active galactic nuclei

We carried out a systematic analysis of time lags between X-ray energy bands in a large sample (32 sources) of unabsorbed, radio quiet active galactic nuclei (AGN), observed by XMM-Newton. The analysis of X-ray lags (up to the highest/shortest frequencies/time-scales), is performed in the Fourier-frequency domain, between energy bands where the soft excess (soft band) and the primary power law (hard band) dominate the emission. We report a total of 15 out of 32 sources displaying a high frequency soft lag in their light curves. All 15 are at a significance level exceeding 97 per cent and 11 are at a level exceeding 99 per cent. Of these soft lags, 7 have not been previously reported in the literature, thus this work significantly increases the number of known sources with a soft/negative lag. The characteristic time-scales of the soft/negative lag are relatively short (with typical frequencies and amplitudes of ν\sim 0.07-4 \times 10^{-3} Hz and τ\sim 10-600 s, respectively), and show a highly significant (\gsim 4σ) correlation with the black hole mass. The measured correlations indicate that soft lags are systematically shifted to lower frequencies and higher absolute amplitudes as the mass of the source increases. To first approximation, all the sources in the sample are consistent with having similar mass-scaled lag properties. These results strongly suggest the existence of a mass-scaling law for the soft/negative lag, that holds for AGN spanning a large range of masses (about 2.5 orders of magnitude), thus supporting the idea that soft lags originate in the innermost regions of AGN and are powerful tools for testing their physics and geometry.

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Multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 509 XII. Broad band spectral analysis

(Abridged) The simultaneous UV to X-rays/gamma rays data obtained during the multi-wavelength XMM/INTEGRAL campaign on the Seyfert 1 Mrk 509 are used in this paper and tested against physically motivated broad band models. Each observation has been fitted with a realistic thermal comptonisation model for the continuum emission. Prompted by the correlation between the UV and soft X-ray flux, we use a thermal comptonisation component for the soft X-ray excess. The UV to X-rays/gamma-rays emission of Mrk 509 can be well fitted by these components. The presence of a relatively hard high-energy spectrum points to the existence of a hot (kT~100 keV), optically-thin (tau~0.5) corona producing the primary continuum. On the contrary, the soft X-ray component requires a warm (kT~1 keV), optically-thick (tau~15) plasma. Estimates of the amplification ratio for this warm plasma support a configuration close to the "theoretical" configuration of a slab corona above a passive disk. An interesting consequence is the weak luminosity-dependence of its emission, a possible explanation of the roughly constant spectral shape of the soft X-ray excess seen in AGNs. The temperature (~ 3 eV) and flux of the soft-photon field entering and cooling the warm plasma suggests that it covers the accretion disk down to a transition radius $R_{tr}$ of 10-20 $R_g$. This plasma could be the warm upper layer of the accretion disk. On the contrary the hot corona has a more photon-starved geometry. The high temperature ($\sim$ 100 eV) of the soft-photon field entering and cooling it favors a localization of the hot corona in the inner flow. This soft-photon field could be part of the comptonised emission produced by the warm plasma. In this framework, the change in the geometry (i.e. $R_{tr}$) could explain most of the observed flux and spectral variability.

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X-ray evidence for ultra-fast outflows in local AGNs

X-ray evidence for ultra-fast outflows (UFOs) has been recently reported in a number of local AGNs through the detection of blue-shifted Fe XXV/XXVI absorption lines. We present the results of a comprehensive spectral analysis of a large sample of 42 local Seyferts and 5 Broad-Line Radio Galaxies (BLRGs) observed with XMM-Newton and Suzaku. We detect UFOs in >40% of the sources. Their outflow velocities are in the range 0.03-0.3c, with a mean value of ~0.14c. The ionization is high, in the range logxi~3-6 erg s^{-1} cm, and also the associated column densities are large, in the interval ~10^{22}-10^{24} cm^{-2}. Overall, these results point to the presence of highly ionized and massive outflowing material in the innermost regions of AGNs. Their variability and location on sub-pc scales favor a direct association with accretion disk winds/outflows. This also suggests that UFOs may potentially play a significant role in the AGN cosmological feedback besides jets and their study can provide important clues on the connection between accretion disks, winds and jets.

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Multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 509: Reverberation of the Fe Kalpha line

We report on a detailed study of the Fe K emission/absorption complex in the nearby, bright Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509. The study is part of an extensive XMM-Newton monitoring consisting of 10 pointings (~60 ks each) about once every four days, and includes also a reanalysis of previous XMM-Newton and Chandra observations. Mrk 509 shows a clear (EW=58 eV) neutral Fe Kalpha emission line that can be decomposed into a narrow (sigma=0.027 keV) component (found in the Chandra HETG data) plus a resolved (sigma=0.22 keV) component. We find the first successful measurement of a linear correlation between the intensity of the resolved line component and the 3-10 keV flux variations on time-scales of years down to a few days. The Fe Kalpha reverberates the hard X-ray continuum without any measurable lag, suggesting that the region producing the resolved Fe Kalpha component is located within a few light days-week (r<~10^3 rg) from the Black Hole (BH). The lack of a redshifted wing in the line poses a lower limit of >40 rg for its distance from the BH. The Fe Kalpha could thus be emitted from the inner regions of the BLR, i.e. within the ~80 light days indicated by the Hbeta line measurements. In addition to these two neutral Fe Kalpha components, we confirm the detection of weak (EW~8-20 eV) ionised Fe K emission. This ionised line can be modeled with either a blend of two narrow FeXXV and FeXXVI emission lines or with a single relativistic line produced, in an ionised disc, down to a few rg from the BH. Finally, we observe a weakening/disappearing of the medium and high velocity high ionisation Fe K wind features found in previous XMM-Newton observations. This campaign has made possible the first reverberation measurement of the resolved component of the Fe Kalpha line, from which we can infer a location for the bulk of its emission at a distance of r~40-1000 rg from the BH.

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HS 1700+6416: the first high redshift non lensed NAL-QSO showing variable high velocity outflows

We present a detailed analysis of the X-ray emission of HS 1700+6416, a high redshift (z=2.7348), luminous quasar, classified as a Narrow Absorption Line (NAL) quasar on the basis of its SDSS spectrum. The source has been observed 9 times by Chandra and once by XMM from 2000 to 2007. Long term variability is clearly detected, between the observations, in the 2-10 keV flux varying by a factor of three (~3-9x10^-14 erg s^-1 cm^-2) and in the amount of neutral absorption (Nh < 10^22 cm^-2 in 2000 and 2002 and Nh=4.4+-1.2x10^22 cm^-2 in 2007). Most interestingly, one broad absorption feature is clearly detected at 10.3+-0.7 keV (rest frame) in the 2000 Chandra observation, while two similar features, at 8.9+-0.4 and at 12.5+-0.7 keV, are visible when the 8 contiguous Chandra observations of 2007 are stacked together. In the XMM observation of 2002, strongly affected by background flares, there is a hint for a similar feature at 8.0+-0.3 keV. We interpreted these features as absorption lines from a high velocity, highly ionized (i.e. Fe XXV, FeXXVI) outflowing gas. In this scenario, the outflow velocities inferred are in the range v=0.12-0.59c. To reproduce the observed features, the gas must have high column density (Nh>3x10^23 cm^-2), high ionization parameter (log(xi)>3.3 erg cm s^-1) and a large range of velocities (Delta V~10^4 km s^-1). This Absorption Line QSO is the fourth high-z quasar displaying X-ray signatures of variable, high velocity outflows, and among these, is the only one non-lensed. A rough estimate of the minimum kinetic energy carried by the wind of up to 18% L(bol), based on a biconical geometry of the wind, implies that the amount of energy injected in the outflow environment is large enough to produce effective mechanical feedback.

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Evidence for ultra-fast outflows in radio-quiet AGNs: II - detailed photo-ionization modeling of Fe K-shell absorption lines

X-ray absorption line spectroscopy has recently shown evidence for previously unknown Ultra-fast Outflows (UFOs) in radio-quiet AGNs. In the previous paper of this series we defined UFOs as those absorbers with an outflow velocity higher than 10,000km/s and assessed the statistical significance of the associated blueshifted FeK absorption lines in a large sample of 42 local radio-quiet AGNs observed with XMM-Newton. In the present paper we report a detailed curve of growth analysis and directly model the FeK absorbers with the Xstar photo-ionization code. We confirm that the frequency of sources in the radio-quiet sample showing UFOs is >35%. The outflow velocity distribution spans from \sim10,000km/s (\sim0.03c) up to \sim100,000km/s (\sim0.3c), with a peak and mean value of \sim42,000km/s (\sim0.14c). The ionization parameter is very high and in the range logξ3-6erg s^{-1} cm, with a mean value of logξ4.2 erg s^{-1} cm. The associated column densities are also large, in the range N_H\sim10^{22}-10^{24} cm^{-2}, with a mean value of N_H\sim10^{23} cm^{-2}. We discuss and estimate how selection effects, such as those related to the limited instrumental sensitivity at energies above 7keV, may hamper the detection of even higher velocities and higher ionization absorbers. We argue that, overall, these results point to the presence of extremely ionized and possibly almost Compton thick outflowing material in the innermost regions of AGNs. This also suggests that UFOs may potentially play a significant role in the expected cosmological feedback from AGNs and their study can provide important clues on the connection between accretion disks, winds and jets.

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Probing the unified model in NGC 7314

We present a study of the complex absorbed X-ray spectrum of the Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7314. We collected available public X-ray data from the archives of XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and ASCA. The spectra were analyzed using the fitting package SPEX. We find evidence of intrinsic neutral and ionized absorption in the XMM-Newton EPIC-pn spectrum. The ionized gas presents three significantly distinct ionization phases, although its kinematic properties could not be disentangled. At least two of these phases are also detected in the RGS spectrum, although with less significance due to the low statistics. The ASCA and Suzaku spectra show larger neutral absorption but no ionized gas signatures. The Fe Kalpha emission line is detected in all the observations and, additionally, Fe XXVI in the EPIC-pn spectrum, and Fe Kbeta in the Suzaku XIS spectrum. Using this observational evidence we construct a consistent picture of the geometry of the system in the context of the unified model of active galactic nuclei. The different observational properties are thus interpreted as clouds of neutral gas moving across our line of sight, which would be grazing a clumpy dusty torus.

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PG 1211+143: probing high frequency lags in a high mass AGN

We present the timing analysis of the four archived XMM-Newton observations of PG 1211+143. The source is well-known for its spectral complexity, comprising a strong soft-excess and different absorption systems. Soft energy band (0.3-0.7 keV) lags are detected over all the four observations, in the frequency range $ν\lsim 6 \times 10^{-4}$ Hz, where hard lags, similar to those observed in black hole X-ray binaries, are usually detected in smaller mass AGN. The lag magnitude is energy-dependent, showing two distinct trends apparently connectable to the two flux levels at which the source is observed. The results are discussed in the context of disk- and/or corona-reprocessing scenarios, and of disk wind models. Similarities with the high-frequency negative lag of 1H 0707-495 are highlighted, and, if confirmed, they would support the hypothesis that the lag in PG 1211+143 represents the signature of the same underlying mechanism, whose temporal characteristics scale with the mass of the central object.

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Multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 509. I. Variability and spectral energy distribution

(Abridged) Active galactic nuclei show a wealth of interesting physical processes, some of which are poorly understood. We want to address a number of open questions, including the location and physics of the outflow from AGN, the nature of the continuum emission, the geometry and physical state of the X-ray broad emission line region, the Fe-K line complex, the metal abundances of the nucleus and finally the interstellar medium of our own Galaxy. We study one of the best targets for these aims, the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 with a multiwavelength campaign using five satellites (XMM-Newton, INTEGRAL, Chandra, HST and Swift) and two ground-based facilities (WHT and PAIRITEL). Our observations cover more than five decades in frequency, from 2 um to 200 keV. The combination of high-resolution spectroscopy and time variability allows us to disentangle and study the different components. Our campaign covers 100 days from September to December 2009, and is centred on a simultaneous set of deep XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observations with regular time intervals, spanning seven weeks. We obtain a continuous light curve in the X-ray and UV band, showing a strong, up to 60% flux increase in the soft X-ray band during the three weeks in the middle of our deepest monitoring campaign, and which is correlated with an enhancement of the UV flux. This allows us to study the time evolution of the continuum and the outflow. By stacking the observations, we have also obtained one of the best X-ray and UV spectra of a Seyfert galaxy ever obtained. In this paper we also study the effects of the spectral energy distribution (SED) that we obtained on the photo-ionisation equilibrium. Thanks to our broad-band coverage, uncertainties on the SED do not strongly affect the determination of this equilibrium.

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Evidence for ultra-fast outflows in radio-quiet AGNs: I - detection and statistical incidence of Fe K-shell absorption lines

We performed a blind search for narrow absorption features at energies greater than 6.4 keV in a sample of 42 radio-quiet AGNs observed with XMM-Newton. We detect 36 narrow absorption lines on a total of 101 XMM-Newton EPIC pn observations. The number of absorption lines at rest-frame energies E>7 keV is 22. Their global probability to be generated by random fluctuations is very low, less than 3x10^-8, and their detection have been independently confirmed by a spectral analysis of the MOS data, with associated random probability <10^-7. We identify the lines as Fe XXV and Fe XXVI K-shell resonant absorption. They are systematically blue-shifted, with a velocity distribution ranging from zero up to 0.3c, with a peak and mean value at 0.1c. We detect variability of the lines on both EWs and blue-shifted velocities among different observations even on time-scales as short as a few days, possibly suggesting somewhat compact absorbers. Moreover, we find no significant correlation between the cosmological red-shifts of the sources and the lines blue-shifted velocities, ruling out any systematic contamination by local absorption. If we define Ultra-fast Outflows (UFOs) those highly ionized absorbers with outflow velocities higher than 10^4 km/s, then the majority of the lines are consistent with being associated to UFOs and the fraction of objects with detected UFOs in the whole sample is at least 35%. This fraction is similar for Type 1 and Type 2 sources. The global covering fraction of the absorbers is consequently estimated to be in the range C=0.4-0.6, thereby implying large opening angles. These lines indicate that UFOs are a rather common phenomenon observable in the central regions of these sources and they are probably the direct signature of AGN accretion disk winds/ejecta. The detailed photo-ionization modeling of these absorbers is presented in a companion paper.

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The final verdict by XMM-Newton: the X-ray obscured Seyfert galaxy NGC5506 has a broad Fe K-alpha line

We present the first unambiguous evidence of a broad (Gaussian width ~330 eV) component of the iron K-alpha fluorescent emission line in the X-ray obscured Narrow Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC5506. This is the main results of a spectroscopic monitoring campaign on this source performed with the XMM-Newton observatory between February 2001 and January 2009. The broad line lacks extreme redwards skewness. If modelled with a relativistic component, the profile of the line is consistent with a flat emissivity radial dependence (alpha~1.9). The disk inclination (~40 degrees) is nominally larger then typically observed in unobscured AGN, in agreement with most measurements of broadened iron lines in Seyfert 2 galaxies. The quality of the data allows us to decompose the full iron emission line complex, and to study its long-term (timescales of weeks to years) variability pattern. The intensity of the neutral and narrow iron K-alpha core remains constant during the monitoring campaign. This indicates that the optically thick gas responsible for the non-relativistic reprocessing of the primary AGN continuum in NGC5506 is probably located in the torus rather than in the optical Broad Line Region.

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X-ray imaging of the ionisation cones in NGC 5252

The physical conditions of the gas forming the narrow line regions (NLR) in active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been extensively studied in the optical band. We take advantage of the spectacular extension ($\sim$15") of the NLR in the type II Seyfert galaxy NGC 5252 and of the complementary characteristics of $XMM$--$Newton$ and $Chandra$ to investigate the physical conditions of the gas in this galaxy. The X-ray data from $XMM$--$Newton$ are used to define the spectral properties of the ionising nuclear source. The $Chandra$ data are used to trace the spatial characteristics of the soft X-ray emission. This information is then compared to the HST characteristics. The X-ray spectrum of the nucleus of NGC 5252 is intrinsically flat and absorbed by neutral gas with a column density N~10$^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$. Below 1 keV a soft excess is detected. The high-resolution spectrum obtained with the XMM-Newton RGS shows the presence, in the 0.2-1.5 keV range, of emission lines which strongly indicate that the soft X-ray component is due to ionised gas. Moreover, the soft X-ray emission is spatially resolved around and well overlaps the images obtained in narrow [OIII] optical band. The [OIII]/soft-X flux ratios along the ionisation cones is basically constant. This indicates that the electron density does not significantly deviates from the r$^{-2}$ law (constant ionisation parameter). This result combined with previous optical studies suggest two plausible but different scenarios in the reconstruction of the last 30000 years history of the central AGN. The most promising one is that the source is indeed a "quasar relic" with steady and inefficient energy release from the accretion of matter onto the central super-massive black-hole. This scenario is suggested also by the flat nuclear X-ray spectrum that suggests an advection dominate accretion flow (ADAF) like emission mechanism.

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Probing variability patterns of the Fe K line complex in bright nearby AGNs

The unprecedented sensitivity of current X-ray telescopes allows for the first time to address the issue of the Fe K line complex variability patterns in bright, nearby AGNs. We examine XMM-Newton observations of the brightest sources of the FERO sample of radio-quiet type 1 AGNs with the aim of characterizing the temporal behaviour of Fe K complex features. A systematic mapping of residual flux above and below the continuum in the 4-9 keV range is performed in the time vs energy domain, with the purpose of identifying interesting spectral features in the three energy bands: 5.4-6.1 keV, 6.1-6.8 keV and 6.8-7.2 keV, corresponding respectively to the redshifted, rest frame and blueshifted or highly ionized Fe Kalpha line bands. The variability significance is assessed by extracting light curves and comparing them with MonteCarlo simulations. The time-averaged profile of the Fe K complex revealed spectral complexity in several observations. Red- and blue-shifted components (either in emission or absorption) were observed in 30 out of 72 observations, with an average ~90 eV for emission and ~ -30 eV for absorption features. We detected significant line variability (with confidence levels ranging between 90% and 99.7%) within at least one of the above energy bands in 26 out of 72 observations on time scales of ~6-30 ks. Reliability of these features has been carefully calculated using this sample and has been assessed at ~3sigma confidence level. This work increases the currently scanty number of detections of variable, energy shifted, Fe lines and confirms the reliability of the claimed detections. We found that the distribution of detected features is peaked at high variability significances in the red- and blue-shifted energy bands, suggesting an origin in a relativistically modified accretion flow.

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X-ray evidence for a mildly relativistic and variable outflow in the luminous Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk509

There is growing evidence for the presence of blueshifted Fe K absorption lines in a number of radio-quiet AGNs and QSOs. These may be fundamental to probe flow dynamics near supermassive black holes. Here we aim at verifying and better characterising the existence of such Fe K absorption at ~8-10 keV in the luminous Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk509, one of the most promising target for these studies. We present a comprehensive spectral analysis of the six XMM-Newton observations of the source (for a total of ~200 ks), focusing on the detailed and systematic search for absorption features in the high-energy data. We detect several absorption features at rest-frame energies ~8-8.5 keV and ~9.7 keV. The lines are consistent with being produced by H-like iron Ka and Kb shell absorptions associated with an outflow with mildly relativistic velocity of ~0.14-0.2 c. The lines are found to be variable in energy and, marginally in intensity, implying that variations in either the column density, geometry and/or ionization structure of the outflow are common in this source.

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XMM-Newton and Suzaku analysis of the Fe K complex in the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509

We report on partially overlapping XMM-Newton (~260 ks) and Suzaku (~100 ks) observations of the iron K band in the nearby, bright Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509. The source shows a resolved neutral Fe K line, most probably produced in the outer part of the accretion disc. Moreover, the source shows further emission blue-ward of the 6.4 keV line due to ionized material. This emission is well reproduced by a broad line produced in the accretion disc, while it cannot be easily described by scattering or emission from photo-ionized gas at rest. The summed spectrum of all XMM-Newton observations shows the presence of a narrow absorption line at 7.3 keV produced by highly ionized outflowing material. A spectral variability study of the XMM-Newton data shows an indication for an excess of variability at 6.6-6.7 keV. These variations may be produced in the red wing of the broad ionized line or by variation of a further absorption structure. The Suzaku data indicate that the neutral Fe Kalpha line intensity is consistent with being constant on long timescales (of a few years) and they also confirm as most likely the interpretation of the excess blueshifted emission in terms of a broad ionized Fe line. The average Suzaku spectrum differs from the XMM-Newton one for the disappearance of the 7.3 keV absorption line and around 6.7 keV, where the XMM-Newton data alone suggested variability.

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Correlated modulation between the redshifted Fe K alpha line and the continuum emission in NGC 3783

It has been suggested that X-ray observations of rapidly variable Seyfert galaxies may hold the key to probe the gas orbital motions in the innermost regions of accretion discs around black holes and, thus, trace flow patterns under the effect of the hole strong gravitational field. We explore this possibility analizing XMM-Newton observations of the seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783. A detiled time-resolved spectral analysis is performed down to the shortest possible time-scales (few ks) using "excess maps" and cross-correlating light curves in different energy bands. In addition to a constant core of the Fe K alpha line, we detected a variable and redshifted Fe K alpha emission feature between 5.3-6.1 keV. The line exhibits a modulation on a time-scale of 27 ks that is similar to and in phase with a modulation of the 0.3-10 keV source continuum. The time-scale of the correlated variability of the redshifted Fe line and continuum agrees with the local dynamical time-scale of the accretion disc at 10 r_g around a black hole of 10^7 M_sun. Given the shape of the redshfted line emission and the overall X-ray variability pattern, the line is likely to arise from the relativistic region near the black hole.

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