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   PR # 42128
   We propose to study with ASCA a complete sample of 14 water vapor
   megamasers in active galaxies. Nine of these objects have already
   been observed or are scheduled for observation with ASCA, and
   observations of the remaining 5 are requested here. The goals are to
   a) check whether the maser luminosities are related to the hard X-ray
   luminosities, as predicted by recent theoretical work, b) investigate
   whether the absorbing columns are fully accounted for by material in
   the accretion disks, c) determine whether galaxies with water vapor
   megamasers have larger column densities than those without, and d)
   estimate mass accretion rates and Eddington ratios. Data from a
   program of ongoing radio observations of the megamaser galaxies will
   be included in the analysis.
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