Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

F. Ursini; A. Marinucci; G. Matt; S. Bianchi; F. Marin; H. L. Marshall; R. Middei; J. Poutanen; D. Rogantini; A. De Rosa; L. Di Gesu; J. A. García; A. Ingram; D. E. Kim; H. Krawczynski; S. Puccetti; P. Soffitta; J. Svoboda; F. Tombesi; M. C. Weisskopf; T. Barnouin; M. Perri; J. Podgorny; A. Ratheesh; A. Zaino; I. Agudo; L. A. Antonelli; M. Bachetti; L. Baldini; W. H. Baumgartner; R. Bellazzini; S. D. Bongiorno; R. Bonino; A. Brez; N. Bucciantini; F. Capitanio; S. Castellano; E. Cavazzuti; S. Ciprini; E. Costa; E. Del Monte; N. Di Lalla; A. Di Marco; I. Donnarumma; V. Doroshenko; M. Dovciak; S. R. Ehlert; T. Enoto; Y. Evangelista; S. Fabiani; R. Ferrazzoli; S. Gunji; J. Heyl; W. Iwakiri; S. G. Jorstad; V. Karas; T. Kitaguchi; J. J. Kolodziejczak; F. La Monaca; L. Latronico; I. Liodakis; S. Maldera; A. Manfreda; A. P. Marscher; I. Mitsuishi; T. Mizuno; F. Muleri; C. Y. Ng; S. L. O'Dell; N. Omodei; C. Oppedisano; A. Papitto; G. G. Pavlov; A. L. Peirson; M. Pesce-Rollins; P. O. Petrucci; M. Pilia; A. Possenti; B. D. Ramsey; J. Rankin; R. W. Romani; C. Sgrò; P. Slane; G. Spandre; T. Tamagawa; F. Tavecchio; R. Taverna; Y. Tawara; A. F. Tennant; N. E. Thomas; A. Trois; S. S. Tsygankov; R. Turolla; J. Vink; K. Wu; F. Xie; S. Zane

doi:10.1093/mnras/stac3189

Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

F. Ursini
, A. Marinucci
, G. Matt
, S. Bianchi
, F. Marin
, H. L. Marshall
, R. Middei
, J. Poutanen
, D. Rogantini
, A. De Rosa
, L. Di Gesu
, J. A. García
, A. Ingram
, D. E. Kim
, H. Krawczynski
, S. Puccetti
, P. Soffitta
, J. Svoboda
, F. Tombesi
, M. C. Weisskopf

T. Barnouin, M. Perri, J. Podgorny, A. Ratheesh, A. Zaino, I. Agudo, L. A. Antonelli, M. Bachetti, L. Baldini, W. H. Baumgartner, R. Bellazzini, S. D. Bongiorno, R. Bonino, A. Brez, N. Bucciantini, F. Capitanio, S. Castellano, E. Cavazzuti, S. Ciprini, E. Costa, E. Del Monte, N. Di Lalla, A. Di Marco, I. Donnarumma, V. Doroshenko, M. Dovciak, S. R. Ehlert, T. Enoto, Y. Evangelista, S. Fabiani, R. Ferrazzoli, S. Gunji, J. Heyl, W. Iwakiri, S. G. Jorstad, V. Karas, T. Kitaguchi, J. J. Kolodziejczak, F. La Monaca, L. Latronico, I. Liodakis, S. Maldera, A. Manfreda, A. P. Marscher, I. Mitsuishi, T. Mizuno, F. Muleri, C. Y. Ng, S. L. O'Dell, N. Omodei, C. Oppedisano, A. Papitto, G. G. Pavlov, A. L. Peirson, M. Pesce-Rollins, P. O. Petrucci, M. Pilia, A. Possenti, B. D. Ramsey, J. Rankin, R. W. Romani, C. Sgrò, P. Slane, G. Spandre, T. Tamagawa, F. Tavecchio, R. Taverna, Y. Tawara, A. F. Tennant, N. E. Thomas, A. Trois, S. S. Tsygankov, R. Turolla, J. Vink, K. Wu, F. Xie, S. Zane

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the closest and X-ray brightest Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN), the Circinus galaxy. We find the source to be significantly polarized in the 2-6 keV band. From previous studies, the X-ray spectrum is known to be dominated by reflection components, both neutral (torus) and ionized (ionization cones). Our analysis indicates that the polarization degree is 28 ± 7 per cent (at 68 per cent confidence level) for the neutral reflector, with a polarization angle of 18^◦ ± 5^◦, roughly perpendicular to the radio jet. The polarization of the ionized reflection is unconstrained. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulations of the polarization expected from the torus shows that the neutral reflector is consistent with being an equatorial torus with a half-opening angle of 45^◦-55^◦. This is the first X-ray polarization detection in a Seyfert galaxy, demonstrating the power of X-ray polarimetry in probing the geometry of the circumnuclear regions of AGNs, and confirming the basic predictions of standard Unification Models.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	50-58
Number of pages	9
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	519
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac3189
State	Published - Feb 1 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1093/mnras/stac3189

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Ursini, F., Marinucci, A., Matt, G., Bianchi, S., Marin, F., Marshall, H. L., Middei, R., Poutanen, J., Rogantini, D., De Rosa, A., Di Gesu, L., García, J. A., Ingram, A., Kim, D. E., Krawczynski, H., Puccetti, S., Soffitta, P., Svoboda, J., Tombesi, F., ... Zane, S. (2023). Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 519(1), 50-58. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac3189

@article{2f8ca5d08f044113a5fb9f835a5a7954,

title = "Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer",

abstract = "We report on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the closest and X-ray brightest Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN), the Circinus galaxy. We find the source to be significantly polarized in the 2-6 keV band. From previous studies, the X-ray spectrum is known to be dominated by reflection components, both neutral (torus) and ionized (ionization cones). Our analysis indicates that the polarization degree is 28 ± 7 per cent (at 68 per cent confidence level) for the neutral reflector, with a polarization angle of 18◦ ± 5◦, roughly perpendicular to the radio jet. The polarization of the ionized reflection is unconstrained. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulations of the polarization expected from the torus shows that the neutral reflector is consistent with being an equatorial torus with a half-opening angle of 45◦-55◦. This is the first X-ray polarization detection in a Seyfert galaxy, demonstrating the power of X-ray polarimetry in probing the geometry of the circumnuclear regions of AGNs, and confirming the basic predictions of standard Unification Models.",

author = "F. Ursini and A. Marinucci and G. Matt and S. Bianchi and F. Marin and Marshall, \{H. L.\} and R. Middei and J. Poutanen and D. Rogantini and \{De Rosa\}, A. and \{Di Gesu\}, L. and Garc{\'i}a, \{J. A.\} and A. Ingram and Kim, \{D. E.\} and H. Krawczynski and S. Puccetti and P. Soffitta and J. Svoboda and F. Tombesi and Weisskopf, \{M. C.\} and T. Barnouin and M. Perri and J. Podgorny and A. Ratheesh and A. Zaino and I. Agudo and Antonelli, \{L. A.\} and M. Bachetti and L. Baldini and Baumgartner, \{W. H.\} and R. Bellazzini and Bongiorno, \{S. D.\} and R. Bonino and A. Brez and N. Bucciantini and F. Capitanio and S. Castellano and E. Cavazzuti and S. Ciprini and E. Costa and \{Del Monte\}, E. and \{Di Lalla\}, N. and \{Di Marco\}, A. and I. Donnarumma and V. Doroshenko and M. Dovciak and Ehlert, \{S. R.\} and T. Enoto and Y. Evangelista and S. Fabiani and R. Ferrazzoli and S. Gunji and J. Heyl and W. Iwakiri and Jorstad, \{S. G.\} and V. Karas and T. Kitaguchi and Kolodziejczak, \{J. J.\} and \{La Monaca\}, F. and L. Latronico and I. Liodakis and S. Maldera and A. Manfreda and Marscher, \{A. P.\} and I. Mitsuishi and T. Mizuno and F. Muleri and Ng, \{C. Y.\} and O'Dell, \{S. L.\} and N. Omodei and C. Oppedisano and A. Papitto and Pavlov, \{G. G.\} and Peirson, \{A. L.\} and M. Pesce-Rollins and Petrucci, \{P. O.\} and M. Pilia and A. Possenti and Ramsey, \{B. D.\} and J. Rankin and Romani, \{R. W.\} and C. Sgr{\`o} and P. Slane and G. Spandre and T. Tamagawa and F. Tavecchio and R. Taverna and Y. Tawara and Tennant, \{A. F.\} and Thomas, \{N. E.\} and A. Trois and Tsygankov, \{S. S.\} and R. Turolla and J. Vink and K. Wu and F. Xie and S. Zane",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Astronomical Society.",

year = "2023",

month = feb,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/stac3189",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "519",

pages = "50--58",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "1",

}

Ursini, F, Marinucci, A, Matt, G, Bianchi, S, Marin, F, Marshall, HL, Middei, R, Poutanen, J, Rogantini, D, De Rosa, A, Di Gesu, L, García, JA, Ingram, A, Kim, DE, Krawczynski, H, Puccetti, S, Soffitta, P, Svoboda, J, Tombesi, F, Weisskopf, MC, Barnouin, T, Perri, M, Podgorny, J, Ratheesh, A, Zaino, A, Agudo, I, Antonelli, LA, Bachetti, M, Baldini, L, Baumgartner, WH, Bellazzini, R, Bongiorno, SD, Bonino, R, Brez, A, Bucciantini, N, Capitanio, F, Castellano, S, Cavazzuti, E, Ciprini, S, Costa, E, Del Monte, E, Di Lalla, N, Di Marco, A, Donnarumma, I, Doroshenko, V, Dovciak, M, Ehlert, SR, Enoto, T, Evangelista, Y, Fabiani, S, Ferrazzoli, R, Gunji, S, Heyl, J, Iwakiri, W, Jorstad, SG, Karas, V, Kitaguchi, T, Kolodziejczak, JJ, La Monaca, F, Latronico, L, Liodakis, I, Maldera, S, Manfreda, A, Marscher, AP, Mitsuishi, I, Mizuno, T, Muleri, F, Ng, CY, O'Dell, SL, Omodei, N, Oppedisano, C, Papitto, A, Pavlov, GG, Peirson, AL, Pesce-Rollins, M, Petrucci, PO, Pilia, M, Possenti, A, Ramsey, BD, Rankin, J, Romani, RW, Sgrò, C, Slane, P, Spandre, G, Tamagawa, T, Tavecchio, F, Taverna, R, Tawara, Y, Tennant, AF, Thomas, NE, Trois, A, Tsygankov, SS, Turolla, R, Vink, J, Wu, K, Xie, F & Zane, S 2023, 'Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 519, no. 1, pp. 50-58. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac3189

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

AU - Ursini, F.

AU - Marinucci, A.

AU - Matt, G.

AU - Bianchi, S.

AU - Marin, F.

AU - Marshall, H. L.

AU - Middei, R.

AU - Poutanen, J.

AU - Rogantini, D.

AU - De Rosa, A.

AU - Di Gesu, L.

AU - García, J. A.

AU - Ingram, A.

AU - Kim, D. E.

AU - Krawczynski, H.

AU - Puccetti, S.

AU - Soffitta, P.

AU - Svoboda, J.

AU - Tombesi, F.

AU - Weisskopf, M. C.

AU - Barnouin, T.

AU - Perri, M.

AU - Podgorny, J.

AU - Ratheesh, A.

AU - Zaino, A.

AU - Agudo, I.

AU - Antonelli, L. A.

AU - Bachetti, M.

AU - Baldini, L.

AU - Baumgartner, W. H.

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Bongiorno, S. D.

AU - Bonino, R.

AU - Brez, A.

AU - Bucciantini, N.

AU - Capitanio, F.

AU - Castellano, S.

AU - Cavazzuti, E.

AU - Ciprini, S.

AU - Costa, E.

AU - Del Monte, E.

AU - Di Lalla, N.

AU - Di Marco, A.

AU - Donnarumma, I.

AU - Doroshenko, V.

AU - Dovciak, M.

AU - Ehlert, S. R.

AU - Enoto, T.

AU - Evangelista, Y.

AU - Fabiani, S.

AU - Ferrazzoli, R.

AU - Gunji, S.

AU - Heyl, J.

AU - Iwakiri, W.

AU - Jorstad, S. G.

AU - Karas, V.

AU - Kitaguchi, T.

AU - Kolodziejczak, J. J.

AU - La Monaca, F.

AU - Latronico, L.

AU - Liodakis, I.

AU - Maldera, S.

AU - Manfreda, A.

AU - Marscher, A. P.

AU - Mitsuishi, I.

AU - Mizuno, T.

AU - Muleri, F.

AU - Ng, C. Y.

AU - O'Dell, S. L.

AU - Omodei, N.

AU - Oppedisano, C.

AU - Papitto, A.

AU - Pavlov, G. G.

AU - Peirson, A. L.

AU - Pesce-Rollins, M.

AU - Petrucci, P. O.

AU - Pilia, M.

AU - Possenti, A.

AU - Ramsey, B. D.

AU - Rankin, J.

AU - Romani, R. W.

AU - Sgrò, C.

AU - Slane, P.

AU - Spandre, G.

AU - Tamagawa, T.

AU - Tavecchio, F.

AU - Taverna, R.

AU - Tawara, Y.

AU - Tennant, A. F.

AU - Thomas, N. E.

AU - Trois, A.

AU - Tsygankov, S. S.

AU - Turolla, R.

AU - Vink, J.

AU - Wu, K.

AU - Xie, F.

AU - Zane, S.

PY - 2023/2/1

Y1 - 2023/2/1

N2 - We report on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the closest and X-ray brightest Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN), the Circinus galaxy. We find the source to be significantly polarized in the 2-6 keV band. From previous studies, the X-ray spectrum is known to be dominated by reflection components, both neutral (torus) and ionized (ionization cones). Our analysis indicates that the polarization degree is 28 ± 7 per cent (at 68 per cent confidence level) for the neutral reflector, with a polarization angle of 18◦ ± 5◦, roughly perpendicular to the radio jet. The polarization of the ionized reflection is unconstrained. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulations of the polarization expected from the torus shows that the neutral reflector is consistent with being an equatorial torus with a half-opening angle of 45◦-55◦. This is the first X-ray polarization detection in a Seyfert galaxy, demonstrating the power of X-ray polarimetry in probing the geometry of the circumnuclear regions of AGNs, and confirming the basic predictions of standard Unification Models.

AB - We report on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the closest and X-ray brightest Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN), the Circinus galaxy. We find the source to be significantly polarized in the 2-6 keV band. From previous studies, the X-ray spectrum is known to be dominated by reflection components, both neutral (torus) and ionized (ionization cones). Our analysis indicates that the polarization degree is 28 ± 7 per cent (at 68 per cent confidence level) for the neutral reflector, with a polarization angle of 18◦ ± 5◦, roughly perpendicular to the radio jet. The polarization of the ionized reflection is unconstrained. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulations of the polarization expected from the torus shows that the neutral reflector is consistent with being an equatorial torus with a half-opening angle of 45◦-55◦. This is the first X-ray polarization detection in a Seyfert galaxy, demonstrating the power of X-ray polarimetry in probing the geometry of the circumnuclear regions of AGNs, and confirming the basic predictions of standard Unification Models.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85150010052

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85150010052#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/stac3189

DO - 10.1093/mnras/stac3189

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85150010052

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 519

SP - 50

EP - 58

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 1

ER -

Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

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