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Broad Absorption Line QSOS: Seeing Past the DisguiseBroad absorption line quasars (BALQSOs) have proven to be elusive soft X-ray sources. Their highly ionized, high column density clouds flow out from the nucleus at 0.1c. On the other hand, the optical/UV emission line spectra of BAL and non-BAL QSOs are quite similar, suggesting similar intrinsic continua. Absorption thus seems the likely reason for the soft X- ray quiet nature of BALQSOs, but this is unproven to date. With hard (2-60 kev) X-raY observations with RXTE, of PG1700+508, we hoped to answer the fundamental question; are BALQSOs highly absorbed or rather are they intrinsically underluminous in X-rays? Together with Kendra J. Michaud, we analyzed our broadband XTE PCA observations of this object to help answer the question of whether BALQSOs represent a separate class of QSOs or merely a different line of sight to the nucleus. Despite difficulties in obtaining a convincing background subtraction, we believe that the result is an XTE non-detection. While the sensitivity of XTE exposure limits the utility of an upper limit, we plan to publish these results within a year.
Document ID
20000020991
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Contractor or Grantee Report
Authors
Green, P.
(Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Astronomy
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-4881
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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