NuSTAR Uncovers an Extremely Local Compton-thick AGN in NGC 4968

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dc.contributor.authorLaMassa, Stephanie M.
dc.contributor.authorYaqoob, Tahir
dc.contributor.authorBoorman, Peter G.
dc.contributor.authorTzanavaris, Panayiotis
dc.contributor.authorLevenson, N. A.
dc.contributor.authorGandhi, Poshak
dc.contributor.authorPtak, Andrew F.
dc.contributor.authorHeckman, Timothy M.
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-23T15:28:59Z
dc.date.available2020-03-23T15:28:59Z
dc.date.issued2019-11-13
dc.description.abstractWe present the analysis of Chandra and NuSTAR spectra of NGC 4968, a local (D∼44 Mpc) 12μm-selected Seyfert 2 galaxy, enshrouded within Compton-thick layers of obscuring gas. We find no evidence of variability between the Chandra and NuSTAR observations (separated by 2 years), and between the two NuSTAR observations (separated by 10 months). Using self-consistent X-ray models, we rule out the scenario where the obscuring medium is nearly spherical and uniform, contradicting the results implied by the <10 keV Chandra spectrum. The line-of-sight column density, from intervening matter between the source and observer that intercepts the intrinsic AGN X-ray emission, is well within the Compton-thick regime, with a minimum column density of 2×10²⁴ cm⁻². The average global column density is high (>3×10²³ cm⁻²), with both Compton-thick and Compton-thin solutions permitted depending on the X-ray spectral model. The spectral models provide a range of intrinsic AGN continuum parameters and implied 2-10 keV luminosities (L₂₋₁₀ₖₑᵥ,intrinsic), where the higher end of L₂₋₁₀ₖₑᵥ,intrinsic is consistent with expectations from the 12μm luminosity (L₂₋₁₀ₖₑᵥ,intrinisc∼7×10⁴² erg s⁻¹). Compared with Compton-thick AGN previously observed by {\it NuSTAR}, NGC 4968 is among the most intrinsically X-ray luminous. However, despite its close proximity and relatively high intrinsic X-ray luminosity, it is undetected by the 105 month Swift-BAT survey, underscoring the importance of multi-wavelength selection for obtaining the most complete census of the most hidden black holes.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://arxiv.org/abs/1911.05813en_US
dc.format.extent20 pagesen_US
dc.genrejournal articles preprintsen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2mbqr-nqc9
dc.identifier.citationLaMassa, Stephanie M.; Yaqoob, Tahir; Boorman, Peter G.; Tzanavaris, Panayiotis; Levenson, N. A.; Gandhi, Poshak; Ptak, Andrew F.; Heckman, Timothy M.; NuSTAR Uncovers an Extremely Local Compton-thick AGN in NGC 4968; High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (2019); https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.05813en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/17565
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Center for Space Sciences and Technology
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.rightsThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
dc.subjectactive galactic nucleien_US
dc.subjectX-ray active galactic nucleien_US
dc.subjectseyfert galaxiesen_US
dc.titleNuSTAR Uncovers an Extremely Local Compton-thick AGN in NGC 4968en_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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