The circumnuclear X-ray reflectors in NGC 1068 and the Circinus galaxy

The ASCA and BeppoSAX spectra of the Circinus galaxy and NGC 1068 are analy sed and compared with photoionization models based on CLOUDY. In the case o f Circinus, a single, mildly ionized reflector can account for the line spe ctrum, while in NGC 1068 at least three different reflectors (with differen t ionization states) are needed. We suggest that the reflector in Circinus and the low ionized one in NGC 1068 are the inner and visible part of the m aterial responsible for the X-ray absorption. With this assumption, we esti mate for the inner radius of the absorber a value of 0.2 pc for Circinus an d of a few parsecs for NGC 1068.