Recent studies of AGN data from deep X-ray surveys suggest that signatures ofreprocessing of the intrinsic X-ray continuum in the circumnuclear environmentgrow weaker with increasing luminosity, redshift, and line-of-sight columndensity. Selecting two bright and hard sources from a wide and deep X-raysurvey, we propose to directly measure the strength of reprocessing signaturesin individual high-luminosity AGN. Leveraging detailed studies of theirlower-luminosity local counterparts, we will directly and independently test thereported trends. The proposed joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations offer aunique opportunity to advance studies of the obscuring circumnuclear material inAGN outside of the local Universe.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2021-06-28T16:16:01Z/2021-12-17T05:06:58Z
Version
19.16_20210326_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 Mislav Balokovic, 2023, 'Obscuration and X-ray Reprocessing in High-luminosity Quasars', 19.16_20210326_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-o9a05qi
