2003/05/16 by D. Grupe, S. Mathur, Smita Mathur +1 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/377141
published as Astron.J. 126 (2003) 1159 · accepted for publication in AJ, 14 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables
arxiv created 2003/05/16 · openalex publication_date 2003/08/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We report on the results of XMM-Newton observations of two broad absorption line quasars (BAL QSOs), Q1246-057 and SBS 1542+541. The unprecedented sensitivity of XMM-Newton allows spectral analysis of these X-ray–weak sources. The X-ray spectral data of these sources can be fitted by a power law with α X = 1.0–1.2 and either a partially covering absorber or an ionized absorber model. Rest-frame UV spectroscopy together with polarimetry favors the model with a partially covering absorber with column density a few times 10 22 cm -2 and a covering fraction of about 0.80. After correcting for absorption, the X-ray loudness of these BAL QSOs appears to be similar to other, unabsorbed quasars. The mystery of X-ray weakness of BAL QSOs appears to be all but solved, with strong absorption being the primary reason. With the available X-ray data, however, the issue of whether BAL QSOs represent highly accreting/younger population of quasars remains unsettled.