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

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

Corresponding author: Sandrine.Deluit@obs.unige.ch

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.