2003A&A...398..107B

We present the XMM-Newton observation of the merging system IRAS 19254-7245, also known as The Superantennae, whose southern nucleus is classified as a Seyfert 2 galaxy. The XMM- Newton data have allowed us to perform a detailed X-ray imaging and spectral analysis of this system. We clearly detect, for the first time in this system, a strong (EW∼1.4keV) Fe emission line at 6.49±0.1keV (rest-frame). The X-ray spectrum requires a soft thermal component (kT∼0.9keV; L_0.5–2∼4x10⁴¹erg/s), likely associated with the starburst, and a hard power-law continuum above 2keV (observed L_2–10∼4x10⁴²erg/s). We confirm the flatness of this latter component, already noted in previous ASCA data. This flatness, together with the detection of the strong Fe-Kα line and other broad band indicators, suggest the presence of a Compton-thick AGN with intrinsic luminosity >10⁴⁴erg/s. We show that a Compton-thick model can perfectly reproduce the X-ray spectral properties of this object.