IRAS F12397+3333: Optical Spectropolarimetry & X-ray Ionized Absorbers
Abstract
As part of a program to investigate orientation in IRAS AGN, we investigate scattering and line-of-sight absorption in the soft-X-ray, Narrow Line Type 1 AGN, IRAS F12397+3333. We combine optical spectrophotometry obtained with the Large Cassegrain Spectrograph on McDonald Observatory's 2.7m Harlan J. Smith telescope, and X-ray data from ROSAT and ASCA, to constrain the properties of the central regions. Considering the contribution of host galaxy light, the intrinsic degree of polarization probably increases to short wavelengths (to 7%), suggesting polarization by scattering. IRAS F12397+3333 is slightly variable in the X-ray, and shows hardening of the X-ray spectrum with increasing flux. X-ray spectroscopy shows a probably broad Fe K-alpha emission line of high equivalent width, a likely OVI absorption edge, and a soft X-ray excess. The implied column density of partially-ionized X-ray absorbing gas agrees with that inferred from the optical-UV reddening, so this AGN is an example of dusty "warm absorption". The 25 µm peak in the spectral energy distribution is consistent with grains in thermal equilibrium at Narrow Line Region (NLR) distances from the nucleus - perhaps associated with the scatterers or dusty, warm absorber gas.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007AAS...211.4418W