The SDSS/XMM-Newton Quasar Survey: Correlation between X-ray spectral slope and Eddington ratio

TL;DR

This study reveals a significant correlation between the X-ray spectral slope and the Eddington ratio in quasars, highlighting a link between accretion efficiency and coronal properties, with implications for black hole mass estimation.

Contribution

It demonstrates a strong Gamma-L/L_{EDD} correlation in SDSS quasars, especially when using Hbeta-based black hole masses, and introduces an empirical correction to Mg II-based masses to enhance this correlation.

Findings

Gamma correlates with L/L_{EDD} in quasars.

Empirical correction improves Mg II-based mass estimates.

No correlation with bolometric luminosity.

Abstract

We present a correlation between the 2-10 keV spectral slope Gamma and the Eddington ratio L/L_{EDD} in a sample of ~400 Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasars with available hard X-ray spectra from XMM-Newton serendipitous observations. We find that the Gamma-L/L_{EDD} correlation is strongest in objects with black hole (BH) masses determined from the Hbeta line, and weaker (but still present) for those based on Mg II. An empirical non-linear correction of the Mg II-based masses, obtained by comparing the mass estimates in SDSS quasars having both Hbeta and Mg II measurements, significantly increases the strength of the correlation. No correlation is found among objects with BH masses derived from C IV, confirming that this line is not a reliable indicator of the BH mass. No significant correlation is found with the bolometric luminosity, while a Gamma-M_BH relation is present, though with a lower statistical significance than between Gamma and L/L_{EDD}. Our results imply a physical link between the accretion efficiency in the (cold) accretion disc of AGNs and the physical status of the (hot) corona responsible for the X-ray emission.