Relativistic Effects on Reflection X-ray Spectra of AGN

Lee, Khee-Gan ; London, /University Coll. ; Fuerst, Steven V. ; /KIPAC, Menlo Park ; Brandwardi-Raymond, Graziella ; Wu, Kinwah ; Crowley, Oliver ; London, /University Coll.

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

关键词: Reflection;    Absorption;    X-Ray Spectra Astrophysics,Astro;    Accretion Disks;    Inclination;   

DOI  :  10.2172/896924
RP-ID  :  SLAC-PUB-12271
RP-ID  :  AC02-76SF00515
RP-ID  :  896924

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

We have calculated the reflection component of the X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and shown that they can be significantly modified by the relativistic motion of the accretion flow and various gravitational effects of the central black hole. The absorption edges in the reflection spectra suffer severe energy shifts and smearing. The degree of distortion depends on the system parameters, and the dependence is stronger for some parameters such as the inner radius of the accretion disk and the disk viewing inclination angles. The relativistic effects are significant and are observable. Improper treatment of the reflection component of the X-ray continuum in spectral fittings will give rise to spurious line-like features, which will mimic the fluorescent emission lines and mask the relativistic signatures of the lines.