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Issue A&A
Volume 415, Number 1, February III 2004
Page(s) 39 - 46
Section Extragalactic astronomy
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20034593



A&A 415, 39-46 (2004)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20034593

Investigating the central engine of Seyfert 2 galaxies with and without Polarized Broad Lines

S. J. Deluit1, 2

1  INTEGRAL Science Data Center, 16 chemin d'Écogia, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
2  Geneva Observatory, 51 chemin des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland

(Received 28 April 2003 / Accepted 9 October 2003 )

Abstract
We study the hard X-ray emission of two samples of Seyfert 2 galaxies with and without Polarized Broad Lines (PBL). In the hard X-ray domain, absorption effects do not significantly modify the intrinsic emission allowing us a direct access to the central engine. The purpose of this study is to compare the primary emission of the two Seyfert 2 subclasses in order to investigate the nature of their central engine and to test unified models according to which they both have a hidden Seyfert 1 nucleus. We compute the average hard X-ray spectra of Seyfert 2 galaxies with and without PBL observed with BeppoSAX/PDS (15-136 keV). The two spectra have a common general behavior at first sight, but investigating deeper we find differences in the intrinsic properties of the two categories of Seyfert 2 galaxies. Sy 2 with polarized broad lines have physical conditions close to those of Sy 1 galaxies whereas Sy 2 without PBL differ substantially, suggesting that they may have a particular place in the scheme of Seyfert galaxies.


Key words: galaxies: active -- galaxies: nuclei -- galaxies: Seyfert -- X-rays: galaxies -- methods: data analysis

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© ESO 2004


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