Measuring key X-ray parameters from simulated spectra of Seyfert galaxies

Supermassive black hole (SMBH) accretion is an important topic of astrophysical research for a variety of fields. However, literature shows that precisely modelling the X-ray reflection component of an accretion disk around a SMBH is challenging. We test how reliably we can measure key active galactic nuclei (AGN) X-ray reflection parameters by simulating the spectra of average Seyfert 1 galaxies and then fitting those spectra using common modelling techniques. The AGN spectra were created from 0.01-300.0 keV using XMM-Newton pn responses and with (3.75±0.10)×10⁶ counts in the 2-10 keV band. The model RELXILL was used to create all spectra with a reflection fraction (ratio of reflected flux over primary flux from 0.1-100 keV) of R = 1. The values of six key parameters were generated randomly within given ranges to simulate the spectra: photon index (Γ), inner emissivity index (q₁), black hole spin (a), disk inclination angle (θ), ionization (ξ), and iron abundance in solar units (A_Fe). Once the simulated spectra were created, they were autonomously fit with RELXILL from 2.5-10.0 keV. All six key parameters were allowed to vary throughout the modelling process, with a gradual thawing of model parameters to mimic manual fitting procedure. We find that we can successfully measure key AGN spectral components in this scenario, but some conditions apply: Γ, θ, and A_Fe are well constrained, however they are also consistently overestimated. Only black hole spin (a) measurements that are in extrema, a > 0.9, can be considered reliable. Lastly, ξ and q₁ cannot be measured and these parameters - along with intermediate spin values - should be verified using other techniques.