The Compton Mirror in NGC 4151
Abstract
We show that the sharp cutoff in the hard X-ray spectrum of NGC 4151, unusual for Seyfert 1 galaxies, can be reconciled with the average Seyfert 1 spectrum if we assume that the central source is completely hidden from our line of sight by the thick part of the accretion disk or by the broad emission-line clouds. The observed X-ray radiation is produced by scattering of the Seyfert 1 type spectrum in the higher, cooler parts of the accretion disk corona, or in a wind. A sharp cutoff appears as a result of the Compton recoil effect. This model naturally explains a discrepancy regarding the inclination of the central source, inferred to be low (face-on) from observations of the iron K alpha emission line, but inferred to be high on the basis of optical and UV observations.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- July 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1086/310149
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9605052
- Bibcode:
- 1996ApJ...465L.107P
- Keywords:
-
- ACCRETION;
- ACCRETION DISKS;
- GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 4151;
- GALAXIES: SEYFERT;
- GAMMA RAYS: THEORY;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS: THERMAL;
- X-RAYS: GALAXIES;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 10 pages