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BeppoSAX unveils the nuclear component in NGC 6240

P. Vignati, S. Molendi, G. Matt, M. Guainazzi, L. A. Antonelli, L. Bassani, W. N. Brandt, A. C. Fabian, K. Iwasawa, R. Maiolino, G. Malaguti, A. Marconi, G. C. Perola

astro-pharXiv:astro-ph/9908253

Abstract

The direct nuclear X-ray emission of the ultraluminous IRAS galaxy NGC 6240 has been observed for the first time by BeppoSAX. It is seen through an absorber with NH=2*1024 cm-2. The 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity >1044 erg s-1 definitely proves that a powerful AGN is hosted in this galaxy, despite the LINER optical appearance. Assuming the typical LX/Lbol ratio for quasars, our result implies that it is the AGN and not the starburst that dominates the energy output of NGC 6240.

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