X-rays from the type 2 Radio Quasar: transmitted or scattered

We propose a 30 ks XMM observation of the type 2 RadioQuasar RX J1011.2+5545 at z1.246. Although the ROSAT+ASCA spectrum is best fitted by a moderately absorbed flat power law, a major uncertainty remains as to wheter the 2E45 erg/s (210 keV) luminosity arises as radiation scattered by the radio electrons in which case the highly obscured nucleus might be 100 times more luminous or it is transmitted through a moderate amount of absorbing gas,in which case the spectral shape would be unusually flat. The proposed XMMobservations will show whether the source is variable on timescales of 1000s, and will distingush between an intrinsic flat spectrum or a heavily absorbed steeper one, thus providing a distinctive test between both scattered or nuclear scenarios. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]