RXTE monitoring of the AGN Fairall 9 (F9) reveals extremely unusual X-rayvariability. Instead of the flare-like lightcurve shown by most AGN, F9 showsslow modulations punctuated by short (<15 day), deep dips. If due to absorption,the obscurer must be Compton-thick, partially cover the X-ray source, and existin a pristine environment. If due to accretion instabilities, it implies violentdisruption of the inner disk. Here, we propose triggered XMM-Newton observationsof F9 of the dip-state and the post- dip state, triggering from a Swiftmonitoring campaign proposed for Swift/ Cycle-9. XMM-Newton spectroscopy ofthese unusual dips is guaranteed to yield new insights into the circumnuclearenvironment and/or accretion physics.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2013-12-19T06:20:42Z/2014-01-03T02:38:42Z
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, 2015, 'Exploring the unusual X-ray dipping in the luminous Seyfert galaxy Fairall 9', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-3gf1wvf
