Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rolling down from the 30 keV peak: Modelling the Hard X-Ray and γ-Ray Backgrounds

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Experimental Astronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We will briefly discuss the importance of sensitive X-ray observations above a few tens of keV for a better understanding of the physical mechanisms associated to the Supermassive Black Hole primary emission in both radio quiet and radio loud AGN and to the cosmological evolution of the most obscured sources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Worsley, M.A., Fabian, A.C., Bauer, F.E., Alexander, D.M., Hasinger, G., Mateos, S., Brunner, H., Brandt, W.N., Schneider, D.P.: The unresolved hard X-ray background: the missing source population implied by the Chandra and XMM-Newton deep fields. MNRAS 357, 1281 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hickox, R.C., Markevitch, M.: Absolute measurement of the unresolved X-ray background in the 0.5–8 keV band with Chandra ApJ in press (astro-ph/0512542) (2006)

  3. Risaliti, G., Maiolino, R., Salvati, M.: The distribution of absorbing column densities among Seyfert 2 galaxies. ApJ 522, 157 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Matt, G.: Broad band spectral properties of AGNs and quasars, observations and theory Nuclear Physics B – Proceedings Supplements 132, 97 (2004)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Comastri, A.: In multiwavelength AGN surveys; proceedings of the Guillermo Haro conference held December 8–12, 2003. In: Cozumel, Mexico. Mujica, R., Maiolino, R. (eds.), World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore, p. 323 (2004a)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Comastri, A.: Compton-thick AGN: The dark side of the X-Ray background in supermassive black holes in the distant universe. Barger, A.J. (eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2004, p. 245 (2004b)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Pounds, K.A., Nandra, K., Stewart, G.C., George, I.M., Fabian, A.C.: X-ray reflection from cold matter in the nuclei of active galaxies. Nature 344, 132 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Perola, G.C., Matt, G., Cappi, M., Fiore, F., Guainazzi, M., Maraschi, L., Petrucci, P.O., Piro, L.: Compton reflection and iron fluorescence in BeppoSAX observations of Seyfert type 1 galaxies. A&A 389, 802 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Guainazzi, M., Matt, G., Perola, G.C.: X-ray, obscuration and obscured AGN in the local universe. A&A 444, 119 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hasinger, G., Miyaji, T, Schmidt, M.: Luminosity-dependent evolution of soft X-ray selected AGN: New Chandra and XMM-Newton surveys. A&A 441, 417 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gilli, R., Comastri, A., Hasinger, G. in preparation (2006)

  12. Malizia, A., Bassani, L., Stephen, J.B., Di Cocco, G., Fiore, F., Dean, A.J. BeppoSAX Average Spectra of Seyfert Galaxies. ApJ 589, L17 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Matt, G. et al.: One more surprise from the circinus galaxy: BeppoSAX discovery of a transmission component in hard X-rays. A&A 341, L39 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Soldi, S., Beckmann, V., Bassani, L., Courvoisier, T.J.L., Landi, R., Malizia, A., Dean, A.J., de Rosa, A., Fabian, A.C., Walter R.: INTEGRAL observations of six AGN in the Galactic Plane. A&A 444, 431 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Giommi, P., Colafrancesco, S., Cavazzuti, E., Perri, M., Pittori, C.: Non-thermal backgrounds. A&A 455, 843 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Galbiati, E., Caccianiga, A., Maccacaro, T., Braito, V., Della Ceca, R., Severgnini, P., Brunner, H., Lehmann, I., Page, M.J.: XMM-Newton spectroscopy of an X-ray selected sample of RL AGNs. A&A 430, 927 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Reeves, J.N., Turner, M.J.L.: X-ray spectra of a large sample of quasars with ASCA MNRAS 316, 234 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Page, K.L., Reeves, J.N., O'Brien, P.T., Turner, M.J.L.: XMM-Newton spectroscopy of high-redshift quasars. MNRAS 364, 195 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lopez, L.A., Brandt, W.N., Vignali, C., Schneider, D.P., Chartas, G., Garmire, G.P.: A Chandra snapshot survey of representative high redshift radio-loud quasars from the Parkes-MIT-NRAO sample, AJ in press astro-ph/0601037 (2006)

  20. Gruber, D.E.: The Hard X-Ray Background in: The X-ray background. Collected papers and reviews from a workshop held in Laredo, Spain, September, 1990. Barcons, X., Fabian, A.C. (eds.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; New York, NY. p. 44 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Revnivtsev, M., Gilfanov, M., Jahoda, K., Sunyaev, R.: Intensity of the cosmic X-ray background from HEAO1/A2 experiment. A&A 444, 381 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ferrando, P. et al.: SIMBOL-X: a formation flying mission for hard X-ray astrophysics Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy II. Citterio, O., O'Dell S.L.(eds.), Proc. SPIE, 5900, 195 (2005)

  23. Gilli, R., Comastri, A., Brunetti, G., Setti, G.: The contribution of AGN to the X-ray background: the effect of iron features New Astronomy 4, 45 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Watanabe, K., Hartmann, D.H., Leising, M.D., The, L.-S., Share, G.H., Kinzer, R.L.: The cosmic gamma ray background from supernovae in proceedings of the fourth compton symposium (eds.), Dermer, C. D., Strickman, M. S., Kurfess, J. D. Williamsburg, VA April 1997: AIP Conference Proceedings 410, 1223. (1997)

  25. Kappadath, S.C. et al.: The preliminary cosmic diffuse γ-ray spectrum from 800 keV to 30 MeV measured with COMPTEL. A&AS 120, 619 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Andrea Comastri & Roberto Gilli

  2. Max Planck für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany

    Günther Hasinger

Authors
  1. Andrea Comastri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roberto Gilli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Günther Hasinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Comastri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Comastri, A., Gilli, R. & Hasinger, G. Rolling down from the 30 keV peak: Modelling the Hard X-Ray and γ-Ray Backgrounds. Exp Astron 20, 41–47 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-006-9041-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-006-9041-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation