2012A&A...542A..46S -
Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 542A, 46-46 (2012/6-1)
A new technique to efficiently select Compton-thick AGN.
SEVERGNINI P., CACCIANIGA A. and DELLA CECA R.
Abstract (from CDS):
We present a new efficient diagnostic method, based on mid-infrared and X-ray data, to select local (z<0.1) Compton-thick AGN with the aim of estimating their surface and space density. We define a region in the X-ray-to-mid-IR [F(2-12keV)/F
25ν
25] vs. X-ray color (HR) plane associated to Compton-thick AGN, i.e. [F(2-12keV)/F
25ν
25]<0.02 and HR>-0.2. On the basis of this selection method we build up a sample of 43 Compton-thick AGN candidates using data from IRAS Point Source and 2XMM-Newton catalogues. In order to test the efficiency of the proposed method in selecting Compton-thick AGN we use the results of the X-ray spectral analysis performed on all the sources of our sample (presented in a parallel work). After taking into account the different selection effects, we have estimated the number of Compton-thick in the local Universe and their density down to the IRAS flux limit of F
25=0.5Jy. We find that the diagnostic plot proposed here is an efficient method to select Compton-thick AGN in the nearby Universe since ∼84% of the sources populating the proposed Compton-thick region are actually Compton-thick AGN. Twenty percent are newly-discovered Compton-thick AGN. We then estimate the surface density of Compton-thick AGN down to the IRAS PSC catalogue flux limit (F_25=0.5Jy) that turns out to be ρ
CT∼3x10
–3src/deg2. After estimating an equivalent IR-to-hard-X-ray limiting flux, we compare our result with those found with Swift-BAT. We find that the surface density derived here is a factor 4 above the density computed in the hard X-ray surveys. This difference is ascribed, at least in part, to a significant contribution (∼60-90%) of the star-forming activity to the total 25µm emission for the sources in our sample. By considering only the 25µm AGN emission, we estimate a surface density of Compton-thick AGN which is consistent with the results found by hard X-ray surveys. Finally, we estimated the co-moving space density of Compton-thick AGN with intrinsic L
X>10
43erg/s (0.004<z<0.06): Φ
C–thick~(3.5
+4.5–0.5)x10
–6Mpc
–3. The prediction for Compton-thick AGN based on the synthesis model of X-ray background in Gilli et al. (
2007A&A...463...79G) is consistent with this value.
Abstract Copyright:
∼
Journal keyword(s):
infrared: galaxies - X-rays: galaxies - galaxies: active
Simbad objects:
47
Full paper
View the references in ADS
To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2012A&A...542A..46S and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu