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Paper: Activation of Quiescent Black Holes in AGN?
Volume: 373, The Central Engine of Active Galactic Nuclei
Page: 745
Authors: Jimenez Bailon, E.; Loiseau, N.; Guainazzi, M.; Matt, G.; Rosa-Gonzalez, D.; Piconcelli, E.; Santos Lleo M.
Abstract: We report XMM-Newton observations of three nearby galaxy pairs, AM0707–273, AM1211–465 and AM2040–674. All members were previously classified as H II galaxies. The six galaxies were detected with XMM-Newton and each member was isolated and analyzed separately. The X-ray spectra reveal strong evidence of AGN activity in AM1211–465NE. We have measured a luminosity of 1.94+0.11−0.15 × 1042 ergs s−1 in the 2–10 keV band and the presence of a neutral Fe Kα line with a significance level of 98%. The high NH value measured, 2.2±0.2×1022 cm−2, would explain the misclassification of the source. Marginal evidence of AGN nature was found in the X-ray spectra of AM1211–465SW and AM0707–273E. The X-ray emission of the other three galaxies can be explained with starburst activity. Our results agree with the scenario for quasar activation (Mortlock et al. 1999), in which the gas accretion triggered by encounters of galaxies could refuel a quiescent nuclear black hole, powering the AGN.
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