A study of the X-rayed outflow of APM 08279+5255 through photoionization codes

TL;DR

This study analyzes the X-ray outflows of quasar APM 08279+5255 using spectral fitting and photoionization models, revealing high-velocity winds and correlations with X-ray properties, supporting radiation pressure as a driving mechanism.

Contribution

Introduces a new quasar-outflow model based on cloudy simulations and confirms the presence of high-velocity outflows with detailed spectral analysis.

Findings

Detection of two strong absorption features at 1-4 keV and 7-18 keV

High-velocity outflows up to ~0.7c from spectral features

Correlation between outflow velocity and X-ray photon index

Abstract

We present new results from our study of the X-rayed outflow of the z = 3.91 gravitationally lensed broad absorption line (BAL) quasar APM 08279+5255. These results are based on spectral fits to all the long exposure observations of APM 08279+5255 using a new quasar-outflow model. This model is based on cloudy simulations of a near-relativistic quasar outflow. The main conclusions from our multi-epoch spectral re-analysis of Chandra, XMM-Newton and Suzaku observations of APM 08279+5255 are: 1) In every observation we confirm the presence of two strong features, one at rest-frame energies between 1-4 keV, and the other between 7-18 keV. 2) We confirm that the low-energy absorption (1-4 keV rest-frame) arises from a low-ionization absorber with logNH~23 and the high-energy absorption (7-18 keV rest-frame) arises from highly ionized (3>log xi>4; where xi is the ionization parameter) iron in a near-relativistic outflowing wind. Assuming this interpretation, we find that the velocities on the outflow could get up to ~0.7c. 3) We confirm a correlation between the maximum outflow velocity and the photon index and find possible trends between the maximum outflow velocity and the X-ray luminosity, and between the total column density and the photon index. We performed calculations of the force multipliers of material illuminated by absorbed power laws and a Mathews-Ferland SED. We found that variations of the X-ray and UV parts of the SEDs and the presence of a moderate absorbing shield will produce important changes in the strength of the radiative driving force. These results support the observed trend found between the outflow velocity and X-ray photon index in APM 08279+5255. If this result is confirmed it will imply that radiation pressure is an important mechanism in producing quasar outflows.