Complex absorption hides a Type II QSO in IRAS 13197-1627

We report on the analysis of a BeppoSAX observation of IRAS 13197-1627. The complexity of the broad band (0.3-100 keV) spectrum of the source prevents us from selecting from two possible best-fit models, i.e. one based on a partial covering and the other on a reflection dominated scenario. Whatever the best fit model, the data imply that: 1) the primary spectrum is heavily obscured by at least two absorbers with column densities of the order of 5 × 10²³ cm^-2 and ≥2 × 10²⁴ cm^-2; 2) the intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of the source is at least ∼2 × 10⁴⁴ erg s^-1 thus making IRAS 13197-1627 a type-II QSO (more precisely a type 1.8 QSO) rather than a Seyfert 1.8 galaxy as previously classified. Furthermore, there is marginal evidence of an absorption line at E ∼ 7.5 keV suggesting a possible outflow with v ∼ 0.1c similar to recent findings on other QSOs and Seyferts.