Matzeu, GA, Reeves, JN, Nardini, E, Braito, V, Costa, MT, Tombesi, F and Gofford, J (2016) Broadband short term variability of the quasar PDS 456. Astronomische Nachrichten, 337 (4-5). pp. 495-499. ISSN 1521-3994

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## Abstract

We present a detailed analysis of a recent $500$ ks net exposure \textit{Suzaku} observation, carried out in 2013, of the nearby ($z=0.184$) luminous (L$_{\rm bol}\sim10^{47}$ erg s$^{-1}$) quasar PDS 456 in which the X-ray flux was unusually low. The short term X-ray spectral variability has been interpreted in terms of variable absorption and/or intrinsic continuum changes. In the former scenario, the spectral variability is due to variable covering factors of two regions of partially covering absorbers. We find that these absorbers are characterised by an outflow velocity comparable to that of the highly ionised wind, i.e. $\sim0.25$ c, at the $99.9\%$ $(3.26\sigma)$ confidence level. This suggests that the partially absorbing clouds may be the denser clumpy part of the inhomogeneous wind. Following an obscuration event we obtained a direct estimate of the size of the X-ray emitting region, to be not larger than $20~R_{\rm g}$ in PDS 456.

Item Type: Article This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version Matzeu, G.A. et al., 2016. Broadband short term X-ray variability of the quasar PDS 456. Astronomische Nachrichten, 337(4-5), pp.495–499 is available online via Wiley at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asna.201612336. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher. Black hole physics, galaxies, active, nuclei, quasars, individual, PDS 456, x-rays Q Science > QB AstronomyQ Science > QC Physics Faculty of Natural Sciences > School of Physical and Geographical Sciences Author Symplectic 09 Dec 2016 14:42 03 Mar 2021 09:34 https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/2592

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