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Register a new userAn X-ray view of Mrk 705: A borderline narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy
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Mrk 705 exhibits optical properties of both narrow- and broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies. We examine the X-ray properties of this borderline object utilising proprietary and public data from Chandra, ASCA, ROSAT and RXTE, spanning more than twelve years. Though long-term flux variability from the pointed observations appears rather modest (about 3 times), we do find examples of rare large amplitude outbursts in the RXTE monitoring data. There is very little evidence of long-term spectral variability as the low- and high-energy spectra appear constant with time. A 6.4 keV emission line is detected in the ASCA spectra of Mrk 705, but not during the later, higher flux state Chandra observation. However, the upper limit on the equivalent width of a line in the Chandra spectrum is consistent with a constant-flux emission line and a brighter continuum, suggesting that the line is emitted from distant material such as the putative torus. Overall, the X-ray properties of Mrk 705 appear typical of BLS1 activity.
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We have analyzed the timing properties of the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 766 observed with XMM-Newton during the PV phase. The source intensity changes by a factor of 1.3 over the 29,000 second observation. If the soft excess is modeled by a black body component, as indicated by the EPIC pn data, the luminosity of the black body component scales with its temperature according to L ~ T^4. This requires a lower limit black body size` of about 1.3*10^25 cm^2. In addition, we report the detection of a strong periodic signal with 2.4*10^-4 Hz. Simulations of light curves with the observed time sequence and phase randomized for a red noise spectrum clearly indicate that the periodicity peak is intrinsic to the distant AGN. Furthermore, its existence is confirmed by the EPIC MOS and RGS data. The spectral fitting results show that the black body temperature and the absorption by neutral hydrogen remain constant during the periodic oscillations. This observational fact tends to rule out models in which the intensity changes are due to hot spots orbiting the central black hole. Precession according to the Bardeen-Petterson effect or instabilities in the inner accretion disk may provide explanations for the periodic signal.
We present XMM-Newton observations of Mrk 359, the first Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxy discovered. Even among NLS1s, Mrk 359 is an extreme case with extraordinarily narrow optical emission lines. The XMM-Newton data show that Mrk 359 has a significant soft X-ray excess which displays only weak absorption and emission features. The (2-10) keV continuum, including reflection, is flatter than the typical NLS1, with Gamma approximately 1.84. A strong emission line of equivalent width approximately 200 eV is also observed, centred near 6.4 keV. We fit this emission with two line components of approximately equal strength: a broad iron-line from an accretion disc and a narrow, unresolved core. The unresolved line core has an equivalent width of approximately 120 eV and is consistent with fluorescence from neutral iron in distant reprocessing gas, possibly in the form of a `molecular torus. Comparison of the narrow-line strengths in Mrk 359 and other low-moderate luminosity Seyfert 1 galaxies with those in QSOs suggests that the solid angle subtended by the distant reprocessing gas decreases with increasing AGN luminosity.
We report the discovery of strong soft X-ray emission lines and a hard continuum above 2 keV in the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 335 during an extremely low X-ray flux state. Mrk 335 was observed for 22 ks by XMM-Newton in July 2007 as a Target of Opportunity to examine it in its X-ray low-flux state, which was discovered with Swift. Long-term light curves suggest that this is the lowest flux state this AGN has ever been seen in. However, Mrk 335 is still sufficiently bright that its X-ray properties can be studied in detail. The X-ray continuum spectrum is very complex and requires several components to model. Statistically, partial covering and blurred reflection models work well. We confirm the presence of a strong narrow Fe line at 6.4 keV. High-resolution spectroscopy with the XMM-RGS reveals strong, soft X-ray emission lines not detected in previous, higher signal-to-noise, XMM-Newton observations, such as: highly ionized Fe lines, O VII, Ne IX and Mg XI lines. The optical/UV fluxes are similar to those previously measured with Swift. Optical spectroscopy taken in 2007 September do not show any changes to optical spectra obtained 8 years earlier.
It is arguably in the X-ray regime that Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) exhibit the most extreme behaviour. Spectral complexity, rapid and large amplitude flux variations, and exceptional spectral variability are well known characteristics. However, NLS1s are not eccentric, but form a continuous sequence with typical Seyfert 1 galaxies. Understanding the extreme behaviour displayed by NLS1s will provide insight to the general AGN phenomenon. In this review, I will examine some of the important NLS1 X-ray discoveries over the past twenty years. I will then explore recent work that looks at the nature of the primary X-ray source (i.e. the corona) in NLS1s, demonstrating how the corona can be compact, dynamic, and in some cases consistent with collimated outflow. X-ray observations of NLS1s will be key in determining the nature of the corona, resolving the disc-jet connection, and determining the origin of the radio loud/quiet dichotomy in AGN.
Mrk 1388 has an unusual Seyfert nucleus that shows narrow emission-line components without broad ones, but shows a strong featureless continuum and strong iron-forbidden high-ionization emission lines. The apparent coexistence of type-1/2 characteristics is potentially attributed to a heavily obscured broad-line region or to an intermediate-mass black hole with a broad-line component intrinsically narrower than those of typical narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies. Our observation using very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) reveals high-brightness radio emission from nonthermal jets from an active galactic nucleus (AGN) with a significant radio luminosity. Furthermore, we investigate the radial profile of the host galaxy using a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image, which shows a Sersic index suggestive of a pseudobulge. Using the VLBI and HST results, which are essentially not affected by dust extinction, three individual methods provide similar estimates for the black hole mass: (0.76--5.4)x10^6 M_sun, 1.5x10^6 M_sun, and 4.1x10^6 M_sun. These masses are in a range that is preferential for typical NLS1 galaxies rather than for intermediate-mass black holes. Based on the estimated masses, the full width at half maximum $FWHM(H_beta)$ of approximately 1200--1700 km/s should have been seen. The scenario of a heavily absorbed NLS1 nucleus can explain the peculiarities previously observed.
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