The First High-Resolution Grating Spectrum of a High-Redshift Quasar
Abstract
High-redshift (z) quasars are the farthest persistently bright X-ray point sources in the universe. Although the high column densities towards high-z quasars were observed in the early days of ROSAT, we still do not know whether this absorption is intrinsic to the quasar, or is due to intervening material, or whether the continuum is simply curved as to mimic absorption. So far, observations of such sources were limited to the moderate resolution of CCD spectra. We propose to obtain a high S/N 180 ks RGS spectrum of a highly absorbed - yet extremely bright - quasar RBS 315 (z = 2.69) in order to finally reveal the nature of its absorber: An outflow with absorption lines, the diffuse phase of the intergalactic medium, or just curved continuum.
- Publication:
-
XMM-Newton Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011xmm..prop...38B
- Keywords:
-
- Active Galactic Nuclei;
- Quasars;
- BL-Lac Objects;
- X-ray Background;
- RBS 315;
- RBS 315