A multiwavelength study of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15

We present a multiwaveband spectroscopic study of the nearby Seyfert 1 galaxyMCG-6-30-15. New optical spectra from the Anglo-Australian Telescope arepresented which clearly show the effects of dust extinction/reddening on boththe emission line spectrum and the non-stellar AGN continuum. The reddening isconstrained to be in the range E(B-V)=0.61-1.09. Spectroscopy in the X-rayband, with both ROSAT and ASCA, reveal absorption by the warm absorber butlittle or no neutral absorption expected to accompany the dust responsible forthe optical reddening. The dusty warm absorber solution to this discrepancy isdiscussed and photoionization models of such warm absorbers are constructed.The optical spectrum also displays the relatively strong `coronal' lines of[FeX]6375, [FeXI]7892 and [FeXIV]5303. We show that these lines may plausiblyoriginate from the outer regions of the warm absorber, although bettercalculations of the collision strengths for these transitions are required inorder to conclusively address this issue. We also present new ultraviolet datafrom the International Ultraviolet Explorer and suggest that much of theobserved UV flux is scattered into our line of sight (with a scatteringfraction of 1-5 per cent). We conclude with a discussion of the globalenergetics of this system.