Recent X-ray observations of NGC 4151 have revealed dramatic changes in theX-ray absorption due to bulk motion of the gas across our line-of-sight. Basedon photoionization models, much of this component must lie within 0.1 pc of thecentral source, which, combined with the large transverse velocity, suggeststhat the absorber arises in a disk-driven wind, making NGC 4151 the only Seyfert1 to have shown direct evidence of this phenomenon. We propose a series of 4 newXMM-Newton observations of NGC 4151, of 40 ksec each, to fully constrain thekinematics, location, and physical conditions of the high-column X-ray aborber,and probe the relative effects of radiation driving, thermal pressure, andmagnetocentrifugal forces in accelerating the gas.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2006-05-16T06:21:42Z/2006-11-30T11:02:58Z
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, Prof Steven Kraemer, 2008, 'XMM monitoring of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 4151: Probing the Disk-Wind Connection', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-h79ziov
