SUZAKU OBSERVATIONS OF HARD X-RAY-SELECTED SEYFERT 2 GALAXIES

We present Suzaku observations of five hard X-ray-selected nearby Seyfert 2 galaxies. All the sources were clearly detected with the PIN Hard X-ray Detector up to several tens of keV, allowing for a fairly good characterization of the broadband X-ray continuum. We find that a unique model, even including multiple components, fails to represent the spectra of all the sources. Heavy obscuration manifests itself in different ways. For two sources, there is evidence for a reflection-dominated continuum; among the other three, one is mildly Compton thick (CT; NII similar to 10(24) cm(-2)), while the remaining two are heavily obscured (NII similar or equal to 10(23.5) cm(-2)) but Compton thin. Strong, narrow, iron K alpha lines (EW similar to 1-2 keV) due to neutral or mildly ionized gas are detected in CT active galactic nuclei (AGNs). In all of them, the Ka line is accompanied by the K beta. The intensity and shape of the soft X-ray spectrum are different from object to object. Soft X-rays may originate from a nuclear component scattered off, or leaking through, the X-ray absorber plus thermal X-rays from the host galaxy. Emission from circumnuclear gas photoionized by the active nucleus, parameterized with a power law plus individual narrow Gaussian lines, also provides an acceptable description of the soft X-ray spectra. The limited Suzaku XIS CCD energy resolution does not allow us to draw firm conclusions about the origin of the soft X-ray emission. We briefly discuss our findings in the light of the AGN unified model and the geometry of the obscuring gas.