On The Origin of The Broad Iron Line In NGC 1052: Masers, Jets, and the Structure of the Nucleus
Abstract
The LINER galaxy NGC 1052 is the nearest radio-loud active galactic nucleus (RLAGN), and one of only four megamaser sources in an RLAGN. Though broad iron emission lines from the inner accretion disk are typically challenging to observe in RLAGN, NGC 1052 has displayed such a feature dating back to 1996. Herein, we present the results of our multi-epoch X-ray spectral modeling of this galaxy. While spectral fitting fails to conclusively determine the physical origin of this broad line, the rest-frame energy and width of the line establish that it is emitted from material moving away from us at velocities 0.25c. This velocity is coincident with that of the receding jet in NGC 1052, which is also the location of the masing gas. We discuss the implications for the structure of the nuclear region in the context of this result.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #12
- Pub Date:
- September 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011HEAD...12.3501B