We request 13ks XMM observations of 4 candidate Compton-thick AGN that we haveselected from the 22 month Swift-BAT survey on the basis of their flat X-rayspectra. Our principal purpose is to confirm the Compton-thick nature of theseAGN by searching for the strong 6.4keV iron line, and hence validate thecriteria that we used to find these rare objects. We will also search forsignatures of optically-thin scattering, constrain the size of the absorberthrough using via variability studies, and constrain the true X-ray luminosityof the central engine and hence the impact of the obscuration on the numbercounts of Compton-thick sources in hard X-ray surveys.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-08-24T23:09:41Z/2009-02-01T04:17:38Z
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 Christopher Reynolds, 2010, 'The hunt for Compton-thick AGN', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-6ynp5kn
