Seyfert galaxies as X-ray sources

Abstract

The Ariel V Sky Survey Instrument has detected X-ray emission from 13 Seyfert galaxies (11 of which have not been previously detected at X-ray wavelengths), bringing the total number of Seyfert galaxies detected in this waveband to 15. Two of these galaxies were not known to be Seyferts prior to these observations and have been discovered by obtaining optical spectra of galaxies inside error boxes of previous unidentified Ariel V sources. In this paper we give a detailed description of the identifications, both from statistical and individual points of view, and a discussion of the implications of the results. The galaxies detected are the brightest, at optical wavelengths, of the Type 1 Seyferts, with the exception of NGC 1275 whose classification is uncertain. The power radiated in the 2–10 keV band is typically in the range 1042.5–1044.5 erg/s. At least three of the galaxies exhibit variable X-ray flux density.