| Abstract: | We present monitoring analysis of 8 XMM‐Newton observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy Mrk 3, spanning a period of ～19 months. The continuum flux in the 3–12 keV band remains constant during this observing period. The X‐ray spectrum is well described, in agreement with previous works, by a highly absorbed (N H > 1024 cm–2) power law model, with a photon index Γ = 1.9 and a strong reflection component. A strong Fe Kα line at 6.4 keV with an equivalent width of ～500 eV is detected in the X‐ray spectrum. When we consider the co‐added spectrum we also detect a weaker emission line at 7.4 keV corresponding to neutral Ni Kα emission and weak evidence for the presence of an ionized Fe Kα line at 6.7 keV. Direct comparison with the results obtained from an earlier XMM‐Newton observation of Mrk 3, shows a decrease in the continuum flux of ～30 per cent followed by a similar decrease in the reflected component. Both emission line components at 6.4 and 6.7 keV do not vary. However we find that an alternative model where the N H varies by 20 per cent is also plausible. In this case both the continuum and the reflected emission do not change. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |
