Recent optical and mid-IR constraints suggest that the putative torussurrounding Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) may recede with increasing AGN power.Such a result, if true, has important ramifications on AGN unification and theevolution of supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Surprisingly, the bulk of thehigh-z QSOs used to establish this result lack X-ray constraints. We thereforepropose XMM-Newton observations for this otherwise robustly-studied sample toaddress several remaining questions. The resulting X-ray constraints will becompared to existing OIII and 6um AGN continuum luminosities to yield the mostrobust constraints on potential luminosity dependencies to date.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-11-01T21:38:10Z/2010-04-04T16:17:33Z
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 Franz Bauer, 2011, 'XMM-Newton Constraints on the AGN Receding Torus Model', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-8j0w1tt
