X-ray reprocessing signatures appear in the timing and spectral characteristicsof AGN. Especially valuable is the direct measurement of the reverberation delayof the reprocessor in response to X-ray continuum variations: extraction of theshape of the transfer function gives the location and extent of thecircumnuclear gas. This is only possible in long observations of rapidlyvariable, bright AGN. To this end, we request a 300 ks NuSTAR exposure with 160ks of XMM data, comprising the first joint observation of NGC 4051. NuSTAR opensup the critical window above 10 keV that is dominated by the undiluted lightecho from the X-ray reprocessor. The proposed campaign will allow us to directlymap the reverberating gas close to the black hole.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2018-11-07T09:33:10Z/2018-11-10T09:07:30Z
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 Tracey Turner, 2019, 'MEASURING HARD X-RAY LIGHT ECHOS IN NGC 4051', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wwdsyog
