BeppoSAX observations of LLAGNs: discovery of emission and absorption from highly ionized iron

BeppoSAX observations of the two X-ray brightest LINER nuclei (M81 and NGC 3998) reveal the presence of emission lines and absorption features coming from highly ionized iron (He-like or more ionized). After a brief review on the relevance of the study of low luminosity AGNs (LLAGNs), the main results of the spectral analysis of M81 and NGC 3998 are presented, with emphasis on 1) the orign of the highly ionized features, and 2) the similarities and differences with the properties of more luminous AGNs.