XMM-Newton Observation of Fe Kα Emission from a Broad Absorption Line Quasar: Markarian 231

We present results from a 20 ks XMM-Newton observation of Mrk 231. The European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) spectral data reveal strong line emission due to Fe Kα, which has rarely been detected in this class, as broad absorption line quasars (BAL QSOs) are very faint in the X-ray band. The line energy is consistent with an origin in neutral Fe. The width of the line is equivalent to a velocity dispersion ~18,000 km s^-1, and thus the line may be attributed to transmission and/or reflection from a distribution of emitting clouds. If, instead, the line originates in the accretion disk, then the line strength and flat X-ray continuum support some contribution from a reflected component, although the data disfavor a model in which the hard X-ray band is purely reflected X-rays from a disk. The line parameters are similar to those obtained for the Fe Kα line detected in another BAL QSO, H1413+117.