Proposal Details - 1120011
The High Energy capabilities of INTEGRAL highlighted in a unique multi-wavelength campaign on NGC5548 (Petrucci)

Proposal Abstract

This proposal is to perform a long INTEGRAL observation of 700 ks of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548, simultaneously with an already accepted XMM-Newton pointing during a unique and very large multi-wavelength monitoring of this source. The high energy capabilities of INTEGRAL will permit: 1) to complete the long-term light curve of the 20--60 keV flux of NGC 5548, and 2) to provide the best possible hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray spectrum of this object. As experienced from a previous, very successful campaign led by our group on the Seyfert 1 Mrk 509, we need precise knowledge of the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray band. On the one hand the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray light curve is of prime importance for the characterization of the ionizing radiation, critical information for an accurate time-dependent modeling of the warm-absorber properties that will be observed in detail with XMM-Newton. On the other hand, the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray spectrum is crucial to constrain the physical parameters of the Comptonizing corona responsible for the bulk of the X-ray emission. When combined with XMM-Newton lower-energy information, it allows also to correctly disentangle the different spectral components present in the UV, soft X, medium X-ray and gamma-ray bands and, in consequence, to better understand their origins.

Observation Strategy (Recommended by TAC)

Total of 700 ks in the standard 5x5 pattern centred on RA, Dec = 214.498, 25.137 (J2000 in degrees) to be coordinated with XMM and other telescopes.

Proposal grade: A

Data Rights (Recommended by TAC)

Data rights are awarded for NGC 5548

Exposure Map

The exposure maps are in galactic coordinates using the Aitoff projection and units of seconds, and the colour scale is indicated at the bottom. The green lines provide the 100, 300 and 500 ksec contour.