Probing AGN inner structure with X-ray obscured type 1 AGN

Abstract

Using the X-ray-selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the XMM-XXL north survey and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey spectroscopic follow-up of them, we compare the properties of X-ray unobscured and obscured broad-line AGN (BLAGN1 and BLAGN2; N<SUB>H</SUB> below and above 10<SUP>21.5</SUP> cm<SUP>-2</SUP>), including their X-ray luminosity L<SUB>X</SUB>, black hole mass, Eddington ratio λ<SUB>Edd</SUB>, optical continuum, and line features. We find that BLAGN2 have systematically larger broad line widths and hence apparently higher (lower) M<SUB>BH</SUB> (λ<SUB>Edd</SUB>) than BLAGN1. We also find that the X-ray obscuration in BLAGN tends to coincide with optical dust extinction, which is optically thinner than that in narrow-line AGN (NLAGN) and likely partial covering to the broad-line region. All the results can be explained in the framework of a multicomponent, clumpy torus model by interpreting BLAGN2 as an intermediate type between BLAGN1 and NLAGN in terms of an intermediate inclination angle. <P />