The mid IR - hard X-ray correlation in AGN and its implications for dusty torus models ,
The mid IR - hard X-ray correlation in AGN and its implications for dusty torus models ,
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DOI：
10.1051/0004-6361:20078548
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发表时间：
2007-11
影响因子：
6.5
通讯作者：
H. Horst;P. Gandhi;A. Smette;W. Duschl
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
H. Horst;P. Gandhi;A. Smette;W. Duschl
目标。利用中红外和硬X射线光度之间的关系来约束尘埃环的几何和物理状态，研究了活动星系核统一方案中尘埃环的中红外和X射线性质.方法.我们提出了新的VISIR观测17个附近的活动星系核，并结合这些与我们以前的VISIR样本8塞弗特星系。在结合这些观测数据和文献中的X射线数据后，我们研究了它们的中红外和硬X射线光度之间的相关性。结果在静止坐标系12.3 μm（L-MIR）和2-10 keV（LX）的亮度之间存在着统计上的高度显著的相关性。此外，我们还发现Sy 1和Sy 2核在Lx上具有相同的LMIR分布，其概率为97%。结论.我们的MIR成像的高分辨率使我们能够排除任何显着的非环面的贡献，AGN中红外连续，从而意味着在L-MIR/LX比之间的Sy 1 s和Sy 2s的相似性是固有的AGN。我们认为，这是最好的解释cluaptorus模型。相关性的斜率与统一场景的预期非常一致，并且表明环面几何形状随光度的变化很小或没有变化。此外，我们证明了高的角分辨率是至关重要的活动星系核的研究在IR制度。
Aims. We investigate mid-infrared and X-ray properties of the dusty torus invoked in the unification scenario for active galactic nuclei by using the relation between mid IR and hard X-ray luminosities to constrain the geometry and physical state of the dusty torus. Methods. We present new VISIR observations of 17 nearby AGN and combined these with our earlier VISIR sample of 8 Seyfert galaxies. After combining these observations with X-ray data from the literature, we studied the correlation between their mid IR and hard X-ray luminosities. Results. A statistically highly significant correlation is found between the rest frame 12.3 μm (L MIR ) and 2-10 keV (L x ) luminosities. Furthermore, with a probability of 97%, we find that Sy 1 and Sy 2 nuclei have the same distribution of L MIR over L x . Conclusions. The high resolution of our MIR imaging allows us to exclude any significant non-torus contribution to the AGN mid IR continuum, thereby implying that the similarity in the L MIR /L X ratio between Sy 1s and Sy 2s is intrinsic to AGN. We argue that this is best explained by clumpy torus models. The slope of the correlation is in good agreement with the expectations from the unified scenario and indicates little to no change in the torus geometry with luminosity. In addition, we demonstrate that the high angular resolution is crucial for AGN studies in the IR regime.