The complex circumnuclear environment of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 390.3 revealed by Chandra HETG

TL;DR

This study presents high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 390.3, revealing complex emission and absorption features that inform the structure of its circumnuclear environment and support the unified AGN model.

Contribution

First high spectral resolution X-ray observation of 3C 390.3 revealing detailed emission and absorption features and their implications for AGN structure.

Findings

Detection of ionized Fe L emission and absorption lines.

Identification of a hot interstellar medium component.

Evidence for a warm absorber and reflection component.

Abstract

We present the first high spectral resolution X-ray observation of the broad-line radio galaxy 3C 390.3 obtained with the high energy transmission grating (HETG) spectrometer on board the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The spectrum shows complex emission and absorption features in both the soft X-rays and Fe K band. We detect emission and absorption lines in the energy range between E = 700-1000 eV associated with ionized Fe L transitions (Fe XVII-XX). An emission line at the energy of E=6.4 keV consistent with the Fe K\alpha is also observed. Our best-fit model requires at least three different components: (i) a hot emission component likely associated with the hot interstellar medium in this elliptical galaxy with temperature kT=0.5+/-0.1 keV; (ii) a warm absorber with ionization parameter log\xi=2.3+/-0.5 erg s^{-1} cm, column density logN_H=20.7+/-0.1 cm^{-2}, and outflow velocity of v_{out}<150 km s^{-1}; (iii) a lowly ionized reflection component in the Fe K band likely associated with the optical broad line region or the outer accretion disk. These evidences suggest the possibility that we are looking directly down the ionization cone of this active galaxy and that the central X-ray source only photoionizes along the unobscured cone. This is overall consistent with the angle-dependent unified picture of active galactic nuclei.