Reprocessing of X-rays in AGN. I. Plane parallel geometry - test of pressure equilibrium
Abstract
We present a model of the vertical stratification and the spectra of an irradiated medium under the assumption of constant pressure. Such a solution has properties intermediate between constant density models and hydrostatic equilibrium models, and it may represent a flattened configuration of gas clumps accreting onto the central black hole. Such a medium develops a hot skin, thicker than hydrostatic models, but thinner than constant density models, under comparable irradiation. The range of theoretical values of the alpha_ox index is comparable to those from hydrostatic models and both are close to the observed values for Seyfert galaxies but lower than in quasars. The amount of X-ray Compton reflection is consistent with the observed range. The characteristic property of the model is a frequently multicomponent iron Kalpha line.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- May 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:20020368
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0203202
- Bibcode:
- 2002A&A...387...63D
- Keywords:
-
- radiative transfer;
- accretion disks;
- galaxies: active;
- galaxies: Seyfert;
- X-rays: stars;
- X-rays: galaxies;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics