The X-ray properties of typical high-redshift radio-loud quasars

Abstract

We report spectral, imaging, and variability results from four new XMM-Newton observations and two new Chandra observations of high-redshift (z ≳ 4) radio-loud quasars (RLQs). Our targets span lower, and more representative, values of radio loudness than those of past samples of high-redshift RLQs studied in the X-ray regime. Our spectral analyses show power-law X-ray continua with a mean photon index, 〈Γ〉 = 1.74 0.11, that is consistent with measurements of lower redshift RLQs. These continua are likely dominated by jet-linked X-ray emission, and they follow the expected anticorrelation between photon index and radio loudness. We find no evidence of iron Kα emission lines or Compton-reflection continua. Our data also constrain intrinsic X-ray absorption in these RLQs. We find evidence for significant absorption (N H 1.7 × 1022cm -2) in one RLQ of our sample (SDSS J0011+1446); the incidence of X-ray absorption in our sample appears plausibly consistent with that for high-redshift RLQs that have higher values of radio loudness. In the Chandra observation of PMN J2219-2719 we detect apparent extended (14kpc) X-ray emission that is most likely due to a jet; the X-ray luminosity of this putative jet is 2% that of the core. The analysis of a 4.9 GHz Very Large Array image of PMN J2219-2719 reveals a structure that matches the X-ray extension found in this source. We also find evidence for long-term (450-460 days) X-ray variability by 80%-100% in two of our targets. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.