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The first XMM-Newton spectrum of a high redshift quasar - PKS 0537 - 286

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journal contribution
posted on 2012-10-24, 09:21 authored by J. N. Reeves, M. J. L. Turner, P. J. Bennie, K. A. Pounds, A. Short, P. T. O'Brien, T. Boller, M. Kuster, A. Tiengo
We present XMM-Newton observations of the high redshift (z=3.104), radio-loud quasar PKS 0537-286. The EPIC CCD cameras provide the highest signal-to-noise spectrum of a high-z quasar to date. The EPIC observations show that PKS 0537-286 is extremely X-ray luminous ( $L_{\rm X}=2$ 1047 erg s-1), with an unusually hard X-ray spectrum ( $\Gamma=1.27\pm0.02$). The flat power-law emission extends over the whole observed energy range (0.4 to 40 keV in the quasar rest frame); there is no evidence of intrinsic absorption, which has been claimed in PKS 0537-286 and other high z quasars. However, there is evidence for weak Compton reflection. A redshifted iron K line, observed at 1.5 keV - corresponding to $\sim$6.15 keV in the quasar rest frame - is detected at 95% confidence. If confirmed, this is the most distant iron K line known. The line equivalent width is small (33 eV), consistent with the "X-ray Baldwin effect" observed in other luminous quasars. The reflected continuum is also weak ($R \la$0.25). We find the overall spectral energy distribution of PKS 0537-286 is dominated by the X-ray emission, which, together with the flat power-law and weak reflection features, suggests that the X-radiation from PKS 0537-286 is dominated by inverse Compton emission associated with a face-on relativistic jet.

History

Citation

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2001, 365 (1)

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Published in

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Publisher

EDP Sciences for European Southern Observatory (ESO)

issn

0004-6361

Copyright date

2001

Available date

2012-10-24

Publisher version

http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2001/01/aaxmm11/aaxmm11.html

Language

en

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