Time-Evolving Photoionization: the Thin and Compact X-Ray Wind of NGC 4051

Abstract

We discuss the power of time-evolving photoionization as a diagnostic tool to measure the electron density of photoionized gas. We apply this technique to a XMM-Newton observation of the ionized absorber in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051, and present the first measurements of the its volume density, its distance from the central ionizing source, and so its mass outflow rate. By extrapolating these measurements to high-luminosity, large black hole mass, quasars, we speculate that AGN winds can play important roles both in the AGN-host-galaxy and AGN-IGM feedback processes.

4 Pages, 3 Figures. To appear in the proceedings of the conference "The Central Engine of Active Galactic Nuclei" (16-21 October 2006, Xi'An, China)