Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301

S. Mathur; P. J. Green; N. Arav; M. Brotherton; M. Crenshaw; M. Dekool; M. Elvis; R. W. Goodrich; F. Hamann; D. C. Hines; V. Kashyap; K. Korista; B. M. Peterson; J. C. Shields; I. Shlosman; W. Van Breugel; M. Voit

doi:10.1086/312617

Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301

S. Mathur^*, P. J. Green, N. Arav, M. Brotherton, M. Crenshaw, M. Dekool, M. Elvis, R. W. Goodrich, F. Hamann, D. C. Hines, V. Kashyap, K. Korista, B. M. Peterson, J. C. Shields, I. Shlosman, W. Van Breugel, M. Voit

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present a deep ASCA observation of a broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO) PG 0946+301. The source was clearly detected in one of the gas imaging spectrometers, but not in any other detector. If BALQSOs have intrinsic X-ray spectra similar to normal radio-quiet quasars, our observations imply that there is Thomson thick X-ray absorption (N_H ≳ 10²⁴ cm^-2) toward PG 0946+301. This is the largest column density estimated so far toward a BALQSO. The absorber must be at least partially ionized and may be responsible for attenuation in the optical and UV. If the Thomson optical depth toward BALQSOs is close to 1, as inferred here, then spectroscopy in hard X-rays with large telescopes like XMM would be feasible.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L79-L82
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	533
Issue number	2 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/312617
Publication status	Published - 20 Apr 2000

Access to Document

10.1086/312617

Cite this

Mathur, S., Green, P. J., Arav, N., Brotherton, M., Crenshaw, M., Dekool, M., Elvis, M., Goodrich, R. W., Hamann, F., Hines, D. C., Kashyap, V., Korista, K., Peterson, B. M., Shields, J. C., Shlosman, I., Van Breugel, W., & Voit, M. (2000). Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301. Astrophysical Journal, 533(2 PART 2), L79-L82. https://doi.org/10.1086/312617

@article{6829c6b831734f6982ce51c293b50409,

title = "Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301",

abstract = "We present a deep ASCA observation of a broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO) PG 0946+301. The source was clearly detected in one of the gas imaging spectrometers, but not in any other detector. If BALQSOs have intrinsic X-ray spectra similar to normal radio-quiet quasars, our observations imply that there is Thomson thick X-ray absorption (NH ≳ 1024 cm-2) toward PG 0946+301. This is the largest column density estimated so far toward a BALQSO. The absorber must be at least partially ionized and may be responsible for attenuation in the optical and UV. If the Thomson optical depth toward BALQSOs is close to 1, as inferred here, then spectroscopy in hard X-rays with large telescopes like XMM would be feasible.",

keywords = "Galaxies: active, Quasars: absorption lines, X-rays: galaxies",

author = "S. Mathur and Green, {P. J.} and N. Arav and M. Brotherton and M. Crenshaw and M. Dekool and M. Elvis and Goodrich, {R. W.} and F. Hamann and Hines, {D. C.} and V. Kashyap and K. Korista and Peterson, {B. M.} and Shields, {J. C.} and I. Shlosman and {Van Breugel}, W. and M. Voit",

year = "2000",

month = apr,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1086/312617",

language = "English",

volume = "533",

pages = "L79--L82",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2 PART 2",

}

Mathur, S, Green, PJ, Arav, N, Brotherton, M, Crenshaw, M, Dekool, M, Elvis, M, Goodrich, RW, Hamann, F, Hines, DC, Kashyap, V, Korista, K, Peterson, BM, Shields, JC, Shlosman, I, Van Breugel, W & Voit, M 2000, 'Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 533, no. 2 PART 2, pp. L79-L82. https://doi.org/10.1086/312617

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301

AU - Mathur, S.

AU - Green, P. J.

AU - Arav, N.

AU - Brotherton, M.

AU - Crenshaw, M.

AU - Dekool, M.

AU - Elvis, M.

AU - Goodrich, R. W.

AU - Hamann, F.

AU - Hines, D. C.

AU - Kashyap, V.

AU - Korista, K.

AU - Peterson, B. M.

AU - Shields, J. C.

AU - Shlosman, I.

AU - Van Breugel, W.

AU - Voit, M.

PY - 2000/4/20

Y1 - 2000/4/20

N2 - We present a deep ASCA observation of a broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO) PG 0946+301. The source was clearly detected in one of the gas imaging spectrometers, but not in any other detector. If BALQSOs have intrinsic X-ray spectra similar to normal radio-quiet quasars, our observations imply that there is Thomson thick X-ray absorption (NH ≳ 1024 cm-2) toward PG 0946+301. This is the largest column density estimated so far toward a BALQSO. The absorber must be at least partially ionized and may be responsible for attenuation in the optical and UV. If the Thomson optical depth toward BALQSOs is close to 1, as inferred here, then spectroscopy in hard X-rays with large telescopes like XMM would be feasible.

AB - We present a deep ASCA observation of a broad absorption line quasar (BALQSO) PG 0946+301. The source was clearly detected in one of the gas imaging spectrometers, but not in any other detector. If BALQSOs have intrinsic X-ray spectra similar to normal radio-quiet quasars, our observations imply that there is Thomson thick X-ray absorption (NH ≳ 1024 cm-2) toward PG 0946+301. This is the largest column density estimated so far toward a BALQSO. The absorber must be at least partially ionized and may be responsible for attenuation in the optical and UV. If the Thomson optical depth toward BALQSOs is close to 1, as inferred here, then spectroscopy in hard X-rays with large telescopes like XMM would be feasible.

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Quasars: absorption lines

KW - X-rays: galaxies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034689812&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/312617

DO - 10.1086/312617

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 533

SP - L79-L82

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 PART 2

ER -

Thomson thick X-ray absorption in a broad absorption line quasar, PG 0946+301

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this