Abstract
1ES 1927+654 is a nearby active galactic nucleus (AGN) that underwent a changing-look event in early 2018, developing prominent broad Balmer lines that were absent in previous observations. We have followed up this object in the X-rays with an ongoing campaign that started in 2018 May and that includes 265 NICER (for a total of 678 ks) and 14 Swift/XRT (26 ks) observations, as well as three simultaneous XMM-Newton/NuSTAR (158/ 169 ks) exposures. In the X-rays, 1ES 1927+654 shows a behavior unlike any previously known AGN. The source is extremely variable both in spectral shape and flux and does not show any correlation between X-ray and UV flux on timescales of hours or weeks/months. After the outburst, the power-law component almost completely disappeared, and the source showed an extremely soft continuum dominated by a blackbody component. The temperature of the blackbody increases with the luminosity, going from kT ~ 80 eV (for a 0.3-2 keV luminosity of L0.3-2 ~ 1041.5 erg s-1) to ~200 eV (for L0.3-2 ~ 1044 erg s-1). The spectra show evidence of ionized outflows and of a prominent feature at ~1 keV, which can be reproduced by a broad emission line. The unique characteristics of 1ES 1927+654 in the X-ray band suggest that it belongs to a new type of changing-look AGN. Future X-ray surveys might detect several more objects with similar properties.
Original language | English |
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Article number | A9 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series |
Volume | 255 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2021 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science