BeppoSAX unveils the nuclear component in NGC 6240

Authors
Vignati, P Molendi, S Matt, G Guainazzi, M Antonelli, LA Bassani, L Brandt, WN Fabian, AC Iwasawa, K Maiolino, R Malaguti, G Marconi, A Perola, GC
Citation
P. Vignati et al., BeppoSAX unveils the nuclear component in NGC 6240, ASTRON ASTR, 349(2), 1999, pp. L57-L60
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ISSN journal
00046361 → ACNP
Volume
349
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
L57 - L60
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6361(199909)349:2<L57:BUTNCI>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
The direct nuclear X-ray emission of the ultraluminous IRAS galaxy NGC 6240 has been observed by BeppoSAX. It is seen through an absorber with N-H sim ilar to 2 x 10(24) cm(-2) The 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity of > 10(44) erg s(- 1) definitely proves that a powerful AGN is hosted in this galaxy, despite the LINER optical appearance. Assuming the typical L-X/L-bol ratio for quas ars, our result implies that it is the AGN and not the starburst that domin ates the energy output of NGC 6240.