Recurring obscuration in NGC 3783

Kaastra, J. S. and Mehdipour, M. and Behar, E. and Bianchi, S. and Branduardi-Raymont, G. and Brenneman, L. and Cappi, M. and Costantini, E. and De Marco, B. and Di Gesu, L. and Ebrero, J. and Kriss, G. A. and Mao, J. and Peretz, U. and Petrucci, P. O. and Ponti, G. and Walton, D. (2018) Recurring obscuration in NGC 3783. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 619. A112. ISSN 0004-6361 (https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201832629)

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Abstract

Context. Obscuration of the continuum emission from active galactic nuclei by streams of gas with relatively high velocity (>1000 km s-1) and column density (>3 × 1025 m-2) has been seen in a few Seyfert galaxies. This obscuration has a transient nature. In December 2016 we witnessed such an event in NGC 3783. Aims. The frequency and duration of these obscuration events is poorly known. Here we study archival data of NGC 3783 in order to constrain this duty cycle. Methods. We use archival Chandra/NuSTAR spectra taken in August 2016. We also study the hardness ratio of all Swift XRT spectra taken between 2008 and 2017. Results. In August 2016, NGC 3783 also showed evidence of obscuration. While the column density of the obscuring material is ten times lower than in December 2016, the opacity is still sufficient to block a significant fraction of the ionising X-ray and extreme ultraviolet photons. From the Swift hardness ratio behaviour we find several other epochs with obscuration. Obscuration with columns >1026 m-2 may take place about half of the time. Also, in archival X-ray data taken by the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) in 1993 and 1996 we find evidence of obscuration. Conclusions. Obscuration of the ionising photons in NGC 3783 occurs more frequently than previously thought. This may not always have been recognised due to low-spectral-resolution observations, overly limited spectral bandwidth or confusion with underlying continuum variations.

ORCID iDs

Kaastra, J. S., Mehdipour, M., Behar, E., Bianchi, S., Branduardi-Raymont, G., Brenneman, L., Cappi, M., Costantini, E., De Marco, B., Di Gesu, L., Ebrero, J., Kriss, G. A., Mao, J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7557-9713, Peretz, U., Petrucci, P. O., Ponti, G. and Walton, D.;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:70870
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    30 November 2018
    Published
    13 November 2018
    Published Online
    25 August 2018
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Astronomy
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:13 Dec 2019 10:15
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 12:32
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/70870
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