BeppoSAX unveils the nuclear component in NGC 6240
Abstract
The direct nuclear X-ray emission of the ultraluminous IRAS galaxy NGC 6240 has been observed by BeppoSAX. It is seen through an absorber with N_H ~ 2x 10(24) cm(-2) . The 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity of >10(44) erg s(-1) definitely proves that a powerful AGN is hosted in this galaxy, despite the LINER optical appearance. Assuming the typical L_X/L_bol ratio for quasars, our result implies that it is the AGN and not the starburst that dominates the energy output of NGC 6240.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- September 1999
- DOI:
- 10.48550/arXiv.astro-ph/9908253
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9908253
- Bibcode:
- 1999A&A...349L..57V
- Keywords:
-
- X-RAYS: GALAXIES;
- GALAXIES: SEYFERT;
- GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL: NGC 6240;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- To appear in A&