A JOINT MODEL OF X-RAY AND INFRARED BACKGROUNDS. II. COMPTON-THICK ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS ABUNDANCE
- Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
We estimate the abundance of Compton-thick (CT) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) based on our joint model of X-ray and infrared backgrounds. At L{sub rest2-10{sub keV}} > 10{sup 42} erg s{sup –1}, the CT AGN density predicted by our model is a few ×10{sup –4} Mpc{sup –3} from z = 0 up to z = 3. CT AGNs with higher luminosity cuts (>10{sup 43}, 10{sup 44}, and 10{sup 45} erg s{sup –1}) peak at higher redshift and show a rapid increase in number density from z = 0 to z ∼ 2-3. The CT AGN to all AGN ratio appears to be low (2%-5%) at f{sub 2-10{sub keV}} > 10{sup –15} erg s{sup –1} cm{sup –2} but rises rapidly toward fainter flux levels. The CT AGNs account for ∼38% of the total accreted supermassive black hole mass and contribute ∼25% of the cosmic X-ray background spectrum at 20 keV. Our model predicts that the majority (90%) of luminous and bright CT AGNs (L{sub rest2-10keV} > 10{sup 44} erg s{sup –1} or f{sub 2-10{sub keV}} > 10{sup –15} erg s{sup –1} cm{sup –2}) have detectable hot dust 5-10 μm emission, which we associate with a dusty torus. The fraction drops for fainter objects, to around 30% at L{sub rest2-10{sub keV}} > 10{sup 42} erg s{sup –1} or f{sub 2-10{sub keV}} > 10{sup –17} erg s{sup –1} cm{sup –2}. Our model confirms that heavily obscured AGNs (N{sub H{sub I}} > 10{sup 23} cm{sup –2}) can be separated from unobscured and mildly obscured ones (N{sub H{sub I}} < 10{sup 23} cm{sup –2}) in the plane of observed frame X-ray hardness versus mid-IR/X-ray ratio.
- OSTI ID:
- 22270699
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 777, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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