Heavily obscured, candidate Compton-thick QSO2s (CTQSO2s) are an extremelychallenging class of objects to study at X-ray wavelengths. Five opticallyselected CTQSO2 candidates have been detected with NuSTAR but, at present, onlytwo of these have sufficient broad-band (0.5-24 keV) X-ray data for reliablespectral modelling, which in each case results in the identification ofCompton-thick material. We propose 60 ks XMM-Newton observations of two moreobjects that would double the number of NuSTAR-detected CTQSO2 candidates withhigh quality spectral modelling. The proposed XMM-Newton observations have thepower to distinguish between Compton-thick and Compton-thin absorption, thusimproving our understanding of the Nh distribution of QSO2s.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2015-10-23T18:12:34Z/2015-10-24T11:42:34Z
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, Mr George Lansbury, 2016, 'XMM Observations of NuSTAR-observed Heavily Obscured Quasars at z < 0.5', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-vwg5tri
