When combined with high S/N spectroscopy, X-ray timing properties - inparticular, X-ray time lags - allow one to gain physical insights into accretionand reprocessing near black holes in unprecedented detail. Here, we propose onesuch study of NGC 6814 (130ks) - a rapidly variable AGN in which a recent Suzakuobservation revealed the presence of a strong hard lag with an intriguingenergy-dependence while interestingly displaying no evidence of strongreprocessing in its X-ray spectrum. By utilising the high sensitivity ofXMM-Newton we propose to perform a detailed spectral-timing study of NGC 6814,taking full advantage of the opportunity to test the hypotheses surrounding theproduction of X-ray time delays in an environment free from complex spectral components.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2016-04-08T04:59:00Z/2016-04-09T17:27:20Z
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 Andrew Lobban, 2017, 'X-ray time delays in NGC 6814', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-xuiap3j
