X-ray polarization measurement of the gold standard of radio-quiet active galactic nuclei: NGC 1068

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985815%3A_____%2F24%3A00598914" target="_blank" >RIV/67985815:_____/24:00598914 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0356486" target="_blank" >https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0356486</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202449760" target="_blank" >10.1051/0004-6361/202449760</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

X-ray polarization measurement of the gold standard of radio-quiet active galactic nuclei: NGC 1068

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

NGC 1068 is the most observed radio-quiet active galactic nucleus (AGN) in polarimetry, yet its high-energy polarization has never been probed before due to a lack of dedicated polarimeters. Aims. Using the first X-ray polarimeter sensitive enough to measure the polarization of AGNs, we want to probe the orientation and geometric arrangement of (sub)parsec-scale matter around the X-ray source. Methods. We used the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) satellite to measure, for the first time, the 2- 8 keV polarization of NGC 1068. We pointed IXPE at the target for a net exposure time of 1.15 Ms, in addition to using two Chandra snapshots of ∼10 ks each in order to account for the potential impact of several ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) within IXPE's field of view. Results. We measured a 2- 8 keV polarization degree of 12.4% ± 3.6% and an electric vector polarization angle of 101 ± 8 at a 68% confidence level. If we exclude the spectral region containing bright Fe K lines and other soft X-ray lines where depolarization occurs, the polarization fraction rises to 21.3% ± 6.7% in the 3.5- 6.0 keV band, with a similar polarization angle. The observed polarization angle is found to be perpendicular to the parsec-scale radio jet. Using a combined Chandra and IXPE analysis plus multiwavelength constraints, we estimated that the circumnuclear 'torus' may sustain a half-opening angle of 50- 55 (from the vertical axis of the system). Conclusions. Thanks to IXPE, we have measured the X-ray polarization of NGC 1068 and found comparable results, both in terms of the polarization angle orientation with respect to the radio jet and the torus half-opening angle, to the X-ray polarimetric measurement achieved for the other archetypal Compton-thick AGN: the Circinus galaxy. Probing the geometric arrangement of parsec-scale matter in extragalactic objects is now feasible thanks to X-ray polarimetry.

Název v anglickém jazyce

X-ray polarization measurement of the gold standard of radio-quiet active galactic nuclei: NGC 1068

Popis výsledku anglicky

NGC 1068 is the most observed radio-quiet active galactic nucleus (AGN) in polarimetry, yet its high-energy polarization has never been probed before due to a lack of dedicated polarimeters. Aims. Using the first X-ray polarimeter sensitive enough to measure the polarization of AGNs, we want to probe the orientation and geometric arrangement of (sub)parsec-scale matter around the X-ray source. Methods. We used the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) satellite to measure, for the first time, the 2- 8 keV polarization of NGC 1068. We pointed IXPE at the target for a net exposure time of 1.15 Ms, in addition to using two Chandra snapshots of ∼10 ks each in order to account for the potential impact of several ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) within IXPE's field of view. Results. We measured a 2- 8 keV polarization degree of 12.4% ± 3.6% and an electric vector polarization angle of 101 ± 8 at a 68% confidence level. If we exclude the spectral region containing bright Fe K lines and other soft X-ray lines where depolarization occurs, the polarization fraction rises to 21.3% ± 6.7% in the 3.5- 6.0 keV band, with a similar polarization angle. The observed polarization angle is found to be perpendicular to the parsec-scale radio jet. Using a combined Chandra and IXPE analysis plus multiwavelength constraints, we estimated that the circumnuclear 'torus' may sustain a half-opening angle of 50- 55 (from the vertical axis of the system). Conclusions. Thanks to IXPE, we have measured the X-ray polarization of NGC 1068 and found comparable results, both in terms of the polarization angle orientation with respect to the radio jet and the torus half-opening angle, to the X-ray polarimetric measurement achieved for the other archetypal Compton-thick AGN: the Circinus galaxy. Probing the geometric arrangement of parsec-scale matter in extragalactic objects is now feasible thanks to X-ray polarimetry.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

10308 - Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/GX21-06825X" target="_blank" >GX21-06825X: Akreující černé díry v nové éře polarizačních rentgenových misí</a><br>

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2024

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Astronomy & Astrophysics

ISSN

0004-6361

e-ISSN

1432-0746

Svazek periodika

689

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

Sept.

Stát vydavatele periodika

FR - Francouzská republika

Počet stran výsledku

11

Strana od-do

A238

Kód UT WoS článku

001349887500001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-85198637593