The lack of X-ray-selected obscured AGN with QSO-like luminosities appears to beat odds both with models of the Cosmic X-ray Background, and our understandingof AGN unification. A likely reason for the absence of these objects is thatthey suffer Compton-thick absorption and therefore fall below the survey fluxlimits. This explanation requires a bimodal distribution of absorption columnswhich is not seen in lower luminosity Seyfert galaxies. However, the recedingtorus model can explain why the bimodality only appears in luminuos objects. Wepropose to test this model by observing a carefully selected sample of obscuredluminous radio-loud AGN, primarily to measure their photoelectric absorptioncolumn densities, and hence determine whether they all have Compton thick tori.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-02-01T19:41:10Z/2005-02-02T05:18:04Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr CHRIS SIMPSON, 2006, 'A NEW APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING TYPE 2 QSOS', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-s7fjkyw
