Open AccessThe complex iron line in NGC 7469 observed by BeppoSAX
Author(s) -
De Rosa A.,
Fabian A. C.,
Piro L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05712.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , line (geometry) , spectral line , accretion disc , reflection (computer programming) , galaxy , accretion (finance) , ionization , emission spectrum , astronomy , ion , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
In this letter we present analysis of BeppoSAX data from a long look at the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469. The presence of a soft excess below 0.8 keV is confirmed by our analysis and no warm absorber component is required to fit the spectrum. A complex iron emission line and the Compton reflection hump are clearly detected. The profile of the line is too broad to associate this feature with distant matter. In addition, the observed soft excess and the energy of the iron line E Fe = 6.8 keV strongly support a scenario in which the hard X‐rays are reprocessed by a photoionized accretion disc. This hypothesis was tested by fitting the BeppoSAX spectrum with the ionized disc reflection model of Ross & Fabian. A second narrow line component, in addition to that produced in the disc, is also required to fit the observed iron line profile. A high energy cut‐off around 150 keV is clearly detected in the spectrum.