Dramatic X-ray spectral variability of a Compton-thick type-1 QSO at <i>z</i> ∼ 1

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dc.contributor.authorSimm, T.
dc.contributor.authorBuchner, J.
dc.contributor.authorMerloni, A.
dc.contributor.authorNandra, K.
dc.contributor.authorShen, Y.
dc.contributor.authorErben, T.
dc.contributor.authorCoil, A. L.
dc.contributor.authorWillmer, C. N. A.
dc.contributor.authorSchneider, D. P.
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-23T21:21:42Z
dc.date.available2025-01-23T21:21:42Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractWe report on the discovery of a dramatic X-ray spectral variability event observed in a z similar to 1 broad line type-1 QSO. The XMM Newton spectrum from the year 2000 is characterized by an unobscured power-law spectrum with photon index of Gamma similar to 2, a column density of N-H similar to 5 x 10(20) cm(-2), and no prominent reflection component. Five years later, Chandra captured the source in a heavily-obscured, reflection-dominated state. The observed X-ray spectral variability could be caused by a Compton-thick cloud with N-H similar to 2 x 10(24) cm(-2) eclipsing the direct emission of the hot corona, implying an extreme N-H variation never before observed in a type-1 QSO. An alternative scenario is a corona that switched off in between the observations. In addition, both explanations require a significant change of the X-ray luminosity prior to the obscuration or fading of the corona and/or a change of the relative geometry of the source/reflector system. Dramatic X-ray spectral variability of this kind could be quite common in type-1 QSOs, considering the relatively few data sets in which such an event could have been identified. Our analysis implies that there may be a population of type-1 QSOs which are Compton-thick in the X-rays when observed at any given time.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/mnras/sty2208
dc.identifier.eissn1365-2966
dc.identifier.issn0035-8711
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty2208
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/101234
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000449617100048
dc.issue.numero4
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final4917
dc.pagina.inicio4912
dc.revistaMonthly notices of the royal astronomical society
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectaccretion, accretion discs
dc.subjectblack hole physics
dc.subjectmethods: data analysis
dc.subjectgalaxies: active
dc.subjectquasars: general
dc.subjectX-rays: galaxies
dc.titleDramatic X-ray spectral variability of a Compton-thick type-1 QSO at <i>z</i> ∼ 1
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen480
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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