Comparing Reflection and Absorption Models for the Soft X-ray Variability in the NLS1 AGN UGC 11763

TL;DR

This study compares reflection and absorption models to explain the soft X-ray variability in the NLS1 galaxy UGC 11763, highlighting the challenges in distinguishing models with current data and the potential of future missions.

Contribution

It evaluates multiple spectral models for X-ray variability in UGC 11763, proposing a hybrid model and emphasizing the need for high-resolution data to differentiate them.

Findings

Hybrid model fits slightly better than absorption-only models.

Current CCD data cannot conclusively distinguish models.

Future high-resolution X-ray missions will help resolve spectral components.

Abstract

We present a spectral analysis of two XMM-Newton observations of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy UGC 11763. UGC 11763 shows very different soft X-ray spectral shapes in the two observations separated by 12 years. Three spectral models are considered to explain the multi-epoch X-ray variability of UGC 11763, one based on the relativistic disc reflection model, one based on multiple partially-covering absorbers combined with the warm corona model, and a hybrid model. In the first model, the X-ray variability of UGC 11763 is caused by the emission from a compact coronal region with a variable size. The resulting disc reflection component changes accordingly. A warm absorption model with a modest column density is required in this model too. In the partially-covering absorption scenario, the X-ray variability of UGC 11763 is caused by the variable covering factors of two absorbers located within a region of $r<\approx100r_{\rm g}$. Moreover, the temperature and strength of the warm corona have to change significantly too to explain the variable underlying soft X-ray emission. Lastly, we investigate the possibility of variable intrinsic power-law emission from the hot corona combined with variable absorption in UGC 11763 without changing the geometry of the corona in the third model. This hybrid model provides a slightly better fit than the partially-covering absorption model with improvements in fitting the iron emission band. Current CCD-resolution data cannot distinguish these spectral models for UGC 11763. Future high-resolution X-ray missions, e.g. Athena and XRISM, will test them by resolving different spectral components.