Related papers: The distribution of absorbing column densities amo…
We have analyzed archival \textit{Chandra} and \textit{XMM-Newton} data for two nearly complete homogeneously selected samples of type 2 Seyfert galaxies (Sy2s). These samples were selected based on intrinsic Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)…
We have studied the correlation among X-ray absorption, optical reddening and nuclear dust morphology in Seyfert 2 galaxies. Two main conclusions emerge: a) the Balmer decrement and the amount of X-ray absorption are anticorrelated on a…
We present and discuss a "3-dimensional" diagnostic diagram for Seyfert2 galaxies obtained by means of X-ray and [OIII] data on a large sample of objects (reported in the Appendix). The diagram shows the Kalpha iron line equivalent width as…
Results from BeppoSAX observations of Compton--thick Seyfert 2 galaxies are summarized and reviewed, and their general properties derived and discussed. In five out of the seven observed sources, the nucleus is directly visible at high…
We present a sample of 17 type 2 Seyfert galaxies which have an X-ray column density lower than 10^{22} cm^{-2}. The Compton thin nature of these sources is strongly suggested by isotropic indicators. We estimate the fraction of these…
We study the X-ray spectra of a sample of 19 obscured, optically-selected Seyfert galaxies (Sy 1.8, 1.9 and 2) in the local universe ($d \leq 175$~Mpc), drawn from the CfA Seyfert sample. Our analysis is driven by the high sensitivity of…
We present XMM-Newton spectral analysis of all 38 Seyfert galaxies from the Palomar spectroscopic sample of galaxies. These are found at distances of up to 67 Mpc and cover the absorbed 2-10 keV luminosity range ~10^38-10^43 ergs/s. Our aim…
We present a study of the variations in the absorbing column density of 25 X-ray defined Seyfert 2 galaxies, as inferred from hard X-ray observations, on timescales from months to several years. We show that a significant variation of N$_H$…
Aims: The unification scheme of Seyfert galaxies predicts that the observed differences between type 1 and type 2 Seyfert galaxies are solely due to the differing orientations of the toroidal-shaped obscuring material around AGN. The…
(abridged)The majority of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) suffer from significant obscuration by surrounding dust and gas. X-ray surveys in the 2-10 keV band will miss the most heavily-obscured AGN in which the absorbing column density exceeds…
Results obtained from an X-ray spectral survey of nearby Seyfert galaxies using XMM--Newton are reported. The sample was optically selected, well defined, complete in B mag, and distance limited: it consists of the nearest (D<22 Mpc) 27…
We present a study of X-ray column density variability in Seyfert 2 galaxies. We show that variations in N_H are observed in almost all the objects with multiple hard X-ray observations. Variation timescales (as short as a few months in…
We have used X-ray spectra to measure attenuating columns in a large sample of Seyfert galaxies. Over 30 of these sources have resolved radio jets, allowing the relative orientation of the nucleus and host galaxy to be constrained. We have…
We present a deep study of the average hard X-ray spectra of Seyfert galaxies. We analyzed all public INTEGRAL IBIS/ISGRI data available on all the 165 Seyfert galaxies detected at z<0.2. Our final sample consists of 44 Seyfert 1's, 29…
We study the relation between gaseous absorbing column density (N$_{\rm H}$), infrared colors and detectability of the broad lines in a large sample of Seyfert 2 galaxies(Sy2s). We confirm that Sy2s without polarized broad lines tend to…
We present evidence for a strong correlation between the gaseous absorbing column density towards type 2 Seyfert nuclei and the presence of a stellar bar in their host galaxies. Strongly barred Seyfert 2 galaxies have an average Nh that is…
The structure of obscuring matter in the environment of active galactic nuclei with associated nuclear starbursts is investigated using 3-D hydrodynamical simulations. Simple analytical estimates suggest that the obscuring matter with…
In this paper we discuss the X-ray properties of 49 local (z<0.035) Seyfert 2 galaxies with HST/WFC2 high-resolution optical coverage. It includes the results of 26 still unpublished Chandra and XMM-Newton observations, which yield 25 (22)…
We report the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations of the heavily absorbed Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4945, which confirm the large column density of the absorber, corresponding to the optical depth to Thomson scattering of about 2.4. The…
We have discovered a correlation between the X-ray absorbing column densities within Seyfert galaxies and the relative alignment between the central engines and their host galactic disks. This correlation carries several implications for…