The Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) continues to provide the most sensitiveall-sky census of AGN activity in the 14 195 keV band, unbiased to absorption.The 58-month catalogue has uncovered faint objects for which the existing XRTdata cannot adequately determine the absorption or spectral shape. We propose toobserve eight such objects that display tantalising hints of spectral complexityin existing Swift XRT exposures, as well as strong potential for a mismatchbetween optical and X-ray classifications. The XMM data will lock down thespectral shape and absorption in these sources; the datasets will add value tothe BAT catalogue by improving the accuracy of the local AGN absorptiondistribution and luminosity function, whilst also testing the .unified model. paradigm.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2012-11-21T18:22:58Z/2012-11-22T06:10:48Z
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 Ranjan Vasudevan, 2013, 'Understanding Spectral Complexity in a Representative Sample of Swift BAT AGN', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-z84o215
