arXiv subjects

Massimo Cappi

Publications and source records attributed to Massimo Cappi.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

The Suzaku view of highly-ionised outflows in AGN: I - Statistical detection and global absorber properties

We present the results of a new spectroscopic study of Fe K-band absorption in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Using data obtained from the Suzaku public archive we have performed a statistically driven blind search for Fe XXV Hea and/or Fe XXVI Lyb absorption lines in a large sample of 51 type 1.0-1.9 AGN. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations we find statistically significant absorption is detected at E>6.7 keV in 20/51 sources at the P(MC)>95% level, which corresponds to ~40% of the total sample. In all cases, individual absorption lines are detected independently and simultaneously amongst the two (or three) available XIS detectors which confirms the robustness of the line detections. The most frequently observed outflow phenomenology consists of two discrete absorption troughs corresponding to Fe XXV Hea and Fe XXVI Lyb at a common velocity shift. From xstar fitting the mean column density and ionisation parameter for the Fe K absorption components are log(NH/cm^{-2})~23 and log(xi/erg cm s^{-1})~4.5, respectively. Measured outflow velocities span a continuous range from <1,500 km/s up to ~100,000 km/s, with mean and median values of ~0.1c and ~0.056c, respectively. The results of this work are consistent with those recently obtained using XMM-Newton and independently provides strong evidence for the existence of very highly-ionised circumnuclear material in a significant fraction of both radio-quiet and radio-loud AGN in the local universe.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Accretion and outflow of gas in Markarian 509

A major uncertainty in models for photoionised outflows in AGN is the distance of the gas to the central black hole. We present the results of a massive multiwavelength monitoring campaign on the bright Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509 to constrain the location of the outflow components dominating the soft X-ray band. Mrk 509 was monitored by XMM-Newton, Integral, Chandra, HST/COS and Swift in 2009. We have studied the response of the photoionised gas to the changes in the ionising flux produced by the central regions. We were able to put tight constraints on the variability of the absorbers from day to year time scales. This allowed us to develop a model for the time-dependent photoionisation in this source. We find that the more highly ionised gas producing most X-ray line opacity is at least 5 pc away from the core; upper limits to the distance of various absorbing components range between 20 pc up to a few kpc. The more lowly ionised gas producing most UV line opacity is at least 100 pc away from the nucleus. These results point to an origin of the dominant, slow (v<1000 km/s) outflow components in the NLR or torus-region of Mrk 509. We find that while the kinetic luminosity of the outflow is small, the mass carried away is likely larger than the 0.5 Solar mass per year accreting onto the black hole. We also determined the chemical composition of the outflow as well as valuable constraints on the different emission regions. We find for instance that the resolved component of the Fe-K line originates from a region 40-1000 gravitational radii from the black hole, and that the soft excess is produced by Comptonisation in a warm (0.2-1 keV), optically thick (tau~10-20) corona near the inner part of the disk.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Variable X-ray absorption in the mini-broad absorption line quasar PG 1126-041

We present the results of a multi-epoch observational campaign on the mini-broad absorption line quasar (mini-BAL QSO) PG 1126-041 performed with XMM-Newton from 2004 to 2009. Time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy and simultaneous UV and X-ray photometry were performed on the most complete set of observations and on the deepest X-ray exposure of a mini-BAL QSO to date. Complex X-ray spectral variability, found on time scales of both months and hours, is best reproduced by means of variable and massive ionized absorbers along the line of sight. In the highest signal-to-noise observation, highly-ionized X-ray absorbing material outflowing much faster than the UV absorbing one is detected. This highly-ionized absorber is found to be variable on very short time scales of a few hours.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Variable X-ray absorption in the mini-BAL QSO PG 1126-041

X-ray studies of active galactic nuclei (AGN) with powerful nuclear winds are important for constraining the physics of the inner accretion/ejection flow around supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and for understanding the impact of such winds on the AGN environment. Our main scientific goal is to constrain the properties of the circum-nuclear matter close to the SMBH in the mini-broad absorption line quasar (mini-BAL QSO) PG 1126-041 using a multi-epoch observational campaign with XMM-Newton. We performed temporally resolved X-ray spectroscopy and simultaneous UV and X-ray photometry on the most complete set of observations and on the deepest X-ray exposure of a mini-BAL QSO ever. We found complex X-ray spectral variability on time scales of both months and hours, which is best reproduced by means of variable massive ionized absorbers along the line of sight. As a consequence, the observed optical-to-X-ray spectral index is found to be variable with time. In the highest signal-to-noise observation we detected highly ionized X-ray absorbing material outflowing much faster (v ~ 16500 km/s) than the UV absorbing one (v ~ 5000 km/s). This highly ionized absorber is found to be variable on very short (a few kiloseconds) time scales. Our findings are qualitatively consistent with line-driven accretion disk winds scenarios. Our observations have opened the time-resolved X-ray spectral analysis field for mini-BAL QSOs. Only with future deep studies will we be able to map the dynamics of the inner flow and understand the physics of AGN winds and their impact on the environment.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 509. IV. Optical-UV-X-ray variability and the nature of the soft X-ray excess

We present the analysis of XMM-Newton and Swift optical-UV and X-ray observations of the Seyfert-1/QSO Mrk 509, part of an unprecedented multi-wavelength campaign, investigating the nuclear environment of this AGN. The XMM-Newton data are from a series of 10 observations of about 60 ks each, spaced from each other by about 4 days, taken in Oct-Nov 2009. During our campaign, Mrk 509 was also observed with Swift for a period of about 100 days, monitoring the behaviour of the source before and after the XMM-Newton observations. With these data we have established the continuum spectrum in the optical-UV and X-ray bands and investigated its variability on the timescale of our campaign with a resolution time of a few days. In order to measure and model the continuum as far as possible into the UV, we also made use of HST/COS observations of Mrk 509 (part of our coordinated campaign) and of an archival FUSE observation. We have found that in addition to an X-ray power-law, the spectrum displays soft X-ray excess emission below 2 keV, which interestingly varies in association with the thermal optical-UV emission from the accretion disc. The change in the X-ray power-law component flux (albeit smaller than that of the soft excess), on the other hand, is uncorrelated to the flux variability of the soft X-ray excess and the disc component on the probed timescale. The results of our simultaneous broad-band spectral and timing analysis suggest that, on a resolution time of a few days, the soft X-ray excess of Mrk 509 is produced by the Comptonisation of the thermal optical-UV photons from the accretion disc by a warm (0.2 keV) optically thick (tau ~ 17) corona surrounding the inner regions of the disc. This makes Mrk 509, with a black hole mass of about 1-3 x 10^8 solar masses, the highest mass known system to display such behaviour and origin for the soft X-ray excess.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

On the absorption of X-ray bright broad absorption line quasars

Most X-ray studies of BALQSOs found significant (N_H~10^{22-24} cm^{-2}) intrinsic column densities of gas absorbing an underlying typical power-law continuum emission, in agreement with expectations from radiatively driven accretion disk wind models. However, direct spectral analysis was performed only on a limited number of bright sources. We investigate the X-ray emission of a large BALQSO sample at medium to high redshift (0.8 ~ 5 x 10^{22} cm^{-2}) even including the faintest sources analyzed through hardness ratio analysis. The mean photon index is Gamma~1.9, with no significant evolution with redshift. The alpha_ox are typical of radio-quiet broad line AGN, in contrast with the known (from previous X-ray studies) ``soft X-ray weakness'' of BALQSOs and in agreement with the lack of X-ray absorption. We found the low-Absorption Index (AI) subsample to host the lowest X-ray absorbing column densities of the entire sample. X-ray selected BALQSOs show lower X-ray absorption than purely optically selected ones, and soft X-ray weakness does not hold for any of them. Their outflows may be launched by different mechanisms than classical soft X-ray weak BALQSOs or they may be the tail of the already known population seen along a different line of sight, in both cases expanding the observational parameter space for their search and investigation.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The X-ray view of the ionization cone in NGC5252

We present the results of a Chandra soft X-ray observation of the spectacular ionization cone in the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5252. As almost invariably observed in obscured AGN, the soft X-ray emission exhibits a remarkable morphological concidence with the cone ionized gas as traced by HST O[III] images. Energy-resolved images and high-resolution spectroscopy suggest that the X-ray emitting gas is photoionized by the AGN, at least on scales as large as the innermost gas and stellar ring (<3 kpc). Assuming that the whole cone is photoionized by the AGN, we reconstruct the history of the active nucles in the last 100000 years.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

On the relativistic iron line and soft excess in the Seyfert 1 galaxy Markarian 335

We report on a 133 ks XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Markarian 335. The 0.4-12 keV spectrum contains an underlying power law continuum, a soft excess below 2 keV, and a double-peaked iron emission feature in the 6-7 keV range. We investigate the possibility that the double-peaked emission might represent the characteristic signature of the accretion disc. Detailed investigations show that a moderately broad, accretion disc line is most likely present, but that the peaks may be owing to narrower components from more distant material. The peaks at 6.4 and 7 keV can be identified, respectively, with the molecular torus in active galactic nucleus unification schemes, and very highly ionized, optically thin gas filling the torus. The X-ray variability spectra on both long (~100 ks) and short (~1 ks) timescales disfavour the recent suggestion that the soft excess is an artifact of variable, moderately ionized absorption.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Evidence for relativistic features in the X-ray spectrum of Mrk 335

We present an analysis of hard X-ray features in the spectrum of the bright Sy 1 galaxy Mrk 335 observed by the XMM-Newton satellite. Our analysis confi rms the presence of a broad, ionised iron Kalpha emission line in the spectrum, first found by Gondoin et al. The broad line can be modeled successfully by relativistic accretion disc reflection models. This interpretation is unusually robust in the case of Mrk 335 because of the lack of any ionised (`` warm'') absorber and the absence a clear narrow core to the line. Partial covering by neutral gas cannot, however, be ruled out statistically as the origin of the broad residuals. Regardless of the underlyin g continuum we report, for the first time in this source, the detection of a narrow absorption feature at the rest frame energy of ~5.9 keV. If the feature is identified with a resonance absorption line of iron in a highly ionised medium, the redshift of the line corresponds to an inflow velocity of ~0.11 -0.15 c. We present a simple model for the inflow, accounting approximate ly for relativistic and radiation pressure effects, and use Monte Carlo methods to compute synthetic spectra for qualitative comparison with the data. This mode ling shows that the absorption feature can plausibly be reproduced by infalling gas providing that the feature is identified with Fe xxvi. We require the inflowing gas to extend over a limited range of radii at a few tens of rg to match the observed feature. The mass accretion rate in the flow correspond s to 60% of the Eddington limit, in remarkable agreement with the observed rate . The narrowness of the absorption line tends to argue against a purely gravitational origin for the redshift of the line, but given the current data quality we stress that such an interpretation cannot be ruled out.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The faint X-ray Source Population near 3C 295

We present a statistical analysis of the Chandra observation of the source field around the 3C 295 galaxy cluster (z=0.46) aimed at the search for clustering of X-ray sources. We applied three different methods of analysis, all suggesting a strong clustering in the field on scales of a few arcmin. In particular 1) the logN-logS computed separately for the four ACIS-I chips reveals that there is a significant (3.2 sigma in the 0.5-2 keV, 3.3 sigma in the 2-10 keV and 4.0 sigma in the 0.5-10 keV band) excess of sources to the North-North East and a void to the South of the central cluster. 2) the two point, two-dimensional Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, shows the probability that the sources are uniformly distributed is only a few percent. 3) a strong spatial correlation emerges from the study of the angular correlation function of the field: the angular correlation function (ACF) shows a clear signal on scales of 0.5 - 5 arcmin, correlation angle in the 0.5-7 keV band theta = 8.5^{+6.5}_{-4.5}, 90% confidence limit (assuming a power law ACF with slope gamma=1.8). This correlation angle is 2 times higher than that of a sample of 8 ACIS-I field at the 2.5 sigma confidence level. The above scales translate to 0.2 - 2 Mpc at the cluster redshift, higher than the typical cluster core radius, and more similar to the size of a ``filament'' of the large scale structure.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Complex Absorption Hides a Type II QSO in IRAS 13197-1627

We report on the analysis of a BeppoSAX observation of IRAS 13197-1627. The complexity of the broad band (0.3-100 keV) spectrum of the source prevents us from selecting from two possible best-fit models, i.e. one based on a partial covering and the other on a reflection dominated scenario. Whatever the best fit model, the data imply that: 1) the primary spectrum is heavily obscured by at least two absorbers with column densities of the order of 5x10^23 cm-2 and >2x10^24 cm-2; 2) the intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of the source is at least \~2x10^44 erg/s thus making IRAS 13197-1627 a type-II QSO (more precisely a type 1.8 QSO) rather than a Seyfert 1.8 galaxy as previously classified. Furthermore, there is marginal evidence of an absorption line at E $\sim$7.5 keV suggesting a possible outflow with v~0.1c similar to recent findings on other QSOs and Seyferts.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Diffuse X-ray emission from the spiral galaxy NGC 2403 discovered with Chandra

We have detected diffuse soft X-ray emission (0.4-1 keV) from the disk of the spiral galaxy NGC 2403 with Chandra. This diffuse emission (with a total luminosity of 2.1 x 10^38 erg/s and a gas temperature of 2-8 x 10^6 K) is well separated from the numerous bright point sources. NGC 2403 is a luminous spiral galaxy with a high rate of star formation. Recent HI observations have revealed an extended HI halo with anomalous velocities and a general inflow towards the central regions of the galaxy. This result and the present detection of a diffuse, hot X-ray emitting gas point at a very active disk-halo connection and galactic fountain types of phenomena.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

NGC 4151: an intrinsically average Seyfert 1

We present a detailed analysis of a long, 100 ksec, observation of NGC 4151 by ASCA, contemporaneous with an observation by the CGRO/OSSE. We fit the data with physical models including an Fe K line and Compton reflection both relativistically broadened and coupled according to theoretical results. The model also includes a narrow Fe K component, which is emitted by both an extended plasma region and the X-ray absorber. Our study of the absorber shows strong evidence for the presence of more than one partial-covering cloud in the line of sight. Taking these points into account, our best intrinsic model includes a Comptonization continuum with an X-ray slope of Gamma=1.9 from a thermal plasma with an electron kT=70 keV or so and a disk line with an equivalent width of about 70 eV. The broadening of the line and reflection indicate their origin from innermost parts of an accretion disk. Our results indicate that NGC 4151 has an intrinsic X-ray spectrum and variability properties similar to those of average Seyfert 1s.

astro-ph↗