Testing relativistic reflection and resolving outflows in PG 1211+143 with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR

TL;DR

This study analyzes the X-ray spectrum of PG 1211+143 using XMM-Newton and NuSTAR, demonstrating that models including high-velocity wind absorption better explain the spectral features than pure relativistic reflection models.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive comparison of relativistic reflection and wind absorption models using simultaneous broad-band X-ray data for PG 1211+143.

Findings

Wind absorption models are necessary to explain spectral complexity.

Pure relativistic reflection models are insufficient for PG 1211+143.

Combining XMM-Newton and NuSTAR data tightens model constraints.

Abstract

We analyze the broad-band X-ray spectrum (0.3-50 keV) of the luminous Seyfert 1 / quasar PG 1211+143 - the archetypal source for high-velocity X-ray outflows - using near-simultaneous XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations. We compare pure relativistic reflection models with a model including the strong imprint of photoionized emission and absorption from a high-velocity wind (Pounds16a,16b), finding a spectral fit that extrapolates well over the higher photon energies covered by NuSTAR. Inclusion of the high S/N XMM-Newton spectrum provides much tighter constraints on the model parameters, with a much harder photon index / lower reflection fraction compared to that from the NuSTAR data alone. We show that pure relativistic reflection models are not able to account for the spectral complexity of PG 1211+143 and that wind absorption models are strongly required to match the data in both the soft X-ray and Fe K spectral regions. In confirming the significance of previously reported ionized absorption features, the new analysis provides a further demonstration of the power of combining the high throughput and resolution of long-look XMM-Newton observations with the unprecedented spectral coverage of NuSTAR.