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Electron scattering in X ray-emitting galaxies

Abstract

SEVERAL galactic nuclei have been identified as luminous sources of X rays. These include the radio galaxy Cen A (refs 1 and 2), several type I Seyfert galaxies1,3–5 such as NGC 4151, 3C120 and 3C390.3. The quasar 3C273 has also been detected1,3. Most of these sources have been observed to vary and have, therefore, been considered compact. Their X-ray spectra, where measured, seem to indicate significant low energy absorption intrinsic to that galaxy. Examples are Cen A (ref. 2) for which the line of sight hydrogen column density (assuming solar abundances) NH1023 cm−2 and NGC4151 (ref. 6) where NH5×1022 cm−2.

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FABIAN, A. Electron scattering in X ray-emitting galaxies. Nature 269, 672–673 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269672a0

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