X-ray spectral properties of Seyfert galaxies and the unification scheme

Understand

Aims: The unification scheme of Seyfert galaxies predicts that the observed differences between type 1 and type 2 Seyfert galaxies are solely due to the differing orientations of the toroidal-shaped obscuring material around AGN.

• The observed X-ray spectra of Seyfert type 2s compared to type 1s are expected to be affected by higher absorbing column density due to the edge-on view of the obscuring torus.
• We study the 0.5 - 10 keV X-ray spectral properties of Seyfert type 1s and type 2s with the aim to test the predictions of Seyfert unification scheme in the X-ray regime.
• Methods: We use an optically selected Seyfert sample in which type 1s and type 2s have matched distributions in the orientation independent parameters of AGN and host galaxy.