XMM-Newton long-look observation of the narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS0558-504; I: Spectral analysis

We present results from the spectral analysis of a long XMM-Newton observation of the radio-loud NLS1 galaxy PKS0558-504. The source is highly variable, on all sampled time scales. We did not observe any absorption features in either the soft or hardX-ray band. We found weak evidence for the presence of an iron line at ~6.8 keV, which is indicative of emission from highly ionized iron. The 2-10 keV band spectrum is well fitted by a simple power law model, whose slope steepens with increasing flux, similar to what is observed in other Seyferts as well. The soft excess is variable both in flux and shape, and it can be well described by a low-temperature Comptonisation model, whose slope flattens with increasing flux. The soft excess flux variations are moderately correlated with the hard band variations, and we found weak evidence that they are leading them by ~20 ksec. Our results rule out a jet origin for the bulk of the X-ray emission in this object. The observed hard band spectral variations suggest intrinsic continuum slope variations, caused by changes in the heating/cooling ratio of the hot corona. The low-temperature Comptonising medium, responsible for the soft excess emission, could be a hot layer in the inner disc of the source, which appears due to the fact that the source is accreting at a super-Eddington rate. The soft excess flux and spectral variations could be caused by random variations of the accretion rate.

The X-ray variability and the near-IR to X-ray spectral energy distribution of four low luminosity Seyfert 1 galaxies

We present the results from a study of the X-ray variability and the near-IR to X-ray spectral energy distribution of four low-luminosity, Seyfert 1 galaxies. We compared their variability amplitude and broad band spectrum with those of more luminousAGN in order to investigate whether accretion in low-luminosity AGN operates as in their luminous counterparts. We used archival XMM-Newton and, in two cases, ASCA data to estimate their X-ray variability amplitude and determine their X-ray spectral shape and luminosity. We also used archival HST data to measure their optical nuclear luminosity, and near-IR measurements from the literature, in order to construct their near-IR to X-ray spectra. The X-ray variability amplitude of the four Seyferts is what one would expect, given their black hole masses. Their near-IR to X-ray spectrum has the same shape as the spectrum of quasars which are 10^2-10^5 times more luminous. The objects in our sample are optically classified as Seyfert 1-1.5. This implies that they host a relatively unobscured AGN-like nucleus. They are also of low luminosity and accrete at a low rate. They are therefore good candidates to detect radiation from an inefficient accretion process. However, our results suggest that they are similar to AGN which are 10^2-10^5 times more luminous. The combination of a radiative efficient accretion disc plus an X-ray producing hot corona may persist at low accretion rates as well.