The warm absorber of the low-luminosity Seyfert NGC 3227 is characterized by lowlevels of ionization, making it relatively unique among Seyferts. A high-qualitygrating spectrum, taken when the source is not in an obscured state, is neededfor further detailed study of the warm absorber. We propose a 110 ksecXMM-Newton observation to obtain RGS and EPIC spectra, probe the warm andneutral absorber properties, search for expected signatures of dust embedded inthe warm absorber, and search for flux-dependent spectral changes. We will alsocharacterize energy-dependent timing properties to fully explore Seyfert/X-rayBinary analogies, and search for correlated X-ray/UV flux variability to testreprocessing models.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2006-12-03T01:53:31Z/2006-12-04T10:45:18Z
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 Alex Markowitz, 2008, 'Characterizing the dusty comma lowly-ionized warm absorber in NGC 3227', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-lwb6yh4
