RE J2248−511: not all variable, ultrasoft, X-ray AGN have narrow Balmer lines

We present ASCA data on RE J2248−511, extending existing optical and soft X-ray coverage to 10 keV, and monitoring the soft component. These data show that, despite a very strong ultrasoft X-ray excess below 0.3 keV and a soft 0.3–2 keV spectral index in earlier ROSAT data, the hard X-ray spectrum ( α ∼−0.8; 0.6–10 keV) is typical of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN), and the soft component has since disappeared. Optical data taken at two different epochs show that the big blue bump is also highly variable. The strength of the ultrasoft X-ray component and the extreme variability in RE J2248−511 are reminiscent of the behaviour observed in many narrow line Seyfert 1s (NLS1s). However, the high-energy end of the ROSAT spectrum, the ASCA spectrum and the Balmer line full widths at half maximum of ∼3000 km s⁻¹ in RE J2248−511 are typical of normal Seyfert 1 AGN.
The change in the soft X-ray spectrum as observed in the ROSAT and ASCA data is consistent with the behaviour of Galactic Black Hole Candidates (GBHCs) as they move from a high to a low state, i.e. a fall in the ultrasoft component and a hardening of the X-ray continuum. This GBHC analogy has also been proposed for NLS1s. Alternatively, the variability may be caused by opacity changes in a hot, optically thin corona which surrounds a cold, dense accretion disc; this was first suggested by Guainazzi et al. for 1H 0419−577, an object which shows remarkably similar properties to RE J2248−511.     

Studying the X-ray hysteresis in GX 339−4: the disc and iron line over one decade

We report on a comprehensive and consistent investigation into the X-ray emission from GX 339−4. All public observations in the 11 year RXTE archive were analysed. Three different types of model – single power law, broken power law and a disc + power law – were fitted to investigate the evolution of the disc, along with a fixed Gaussian component at 6.4 keV to investigate any iron line in the spectrum. We show that the relative variation in flux and X-ray colour between the two best sampled outbursts are very similar. The decay of the disc temperature during the outburst is clearly seen in the soft state. The expected decay is   S _Disc∝ T ⁴  ; we measure   T ^4.75±0.23  . This implies that the inner disc radius is approximately constant in the soft state. We also show a significant anticorrelation between the iron line equivalent width (EW) and the X-ray flux in the soft state while in the hard state the EW is independent of the flux. This results in hysteresis in the relation between X-ray flux and both line flux and EW. To compare the X-ray binary outburst to the behaviour seen in active galactic nuclei (AGN), we construct a disc fraction luminosity diagram for GX 339−4, the first for an X-ray binary. The shape qualitatively matches that produced for AGN. Linking this with the radio emission from GX 339−4 the change in radio spectrum between the disc and power-law-dominated states is clearly visible.     

The X-ray luminosity function of AGN at z∼ 3

We combine Lyman-break colour selection with ultradeep (≳200 ks) Chandra X-ray imaging over a survey area of ∼0.35 deg² to select high-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGN). Applying careful corrections for both the optical and X-ray selection functions, the data allow us to make the most accurate determination to date of the faint end of the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) at   z ∼ 3  . Our methodology recovers a number density of X-ray sources at this redshift which is at least as high as previous surveys, demonstrating that it is an effective way of selecting high z AGN. Comparing to results at   z = 1  , we find no evidence that the faint slope of the XLF flattens at high z , but we do find significant (factor ∼3.6) negative evolution of the space density of low luminosity AGN. Combining with bright end data from very wide surveys we also see marginal evidence for continued positive evolution of the characteristic break luminosity   L _*  . Our data therefore support models of luminosity-dependent density evolution between   z = 1  and   z = 3  . A sharp upturn in the the XLF is seen at the very lowest luminosities  ( L _X≲ 10^42.5 erg s⁻¹)  , most likely due to the contribution of pure X-ray starburst galaxies at very faint fluxes.     

The hard X-ray spectrum of soft X-ray-selected AGN

I use ASCA data to investigate the 2–10 keV X-ray emission of active galactic nuclei (AGN) taken from the ROSAT International X-ray Optical Survey (RIXOS). I find that the integrated spectrum of these faint, soft X-ray-selected AGN in the 2–10 keV band is harder (best-fitting α = 0.8 ± 0.1) than the slope measured with ROSAT between 0.1 and 2 keV, but softer than the 2–10 keV X-ray background, and consistent with the average 2–10 keV spectrum of bright, nearby Seyfert galaxies. With this spectral slope and using measurements of the AGN contribution to the 1–2 keV X-ray background, I estimate that the AGN percentage contribution to the 2–10 keV background is 0.60 ^+0.19_−0.14 times the AGN percentage contribution to the 1–2 keV background. Hence AGN produce between 12 and 32 per cent of the 2–10 keV X-ray background. This is only the contribution from the types of AGN which are found in soft X-ray surveys; a population of absorbed AGN could represent an additional component of the 2–10 keV X-ray background.     

Upper limit on dimming of cosmological sources by intergalactic grey dust from the soft X-ray background

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) produce a dominant fraction  ( F _AGN∼ 80 per cent)  of the soft X-ray background (SXB) at photon energies  0.5 < E < 2 keV  . If dust pervaded throughout the intergalactic medium, its scattering opacity would have produced diffuse X-ray haloes around AGN. Taking account of known galaxies and galaxy clusters, only a fraction   F _halo≲ 10 per cent  of the SXB can be in the form of diffuse X-ray haloes around AGN. We therefore limit the intergalactic opacity to optical/infrared photons from large dust grains, with radii in the range   a = 0.2–2.0 μm  , to a level  τ_GD≲ 0.15( F _halo/10 per cent)(F_AGN/80 per cent)⁻¹  to a redshift   z ∼ 1  . Our results are only weakly dependent on the grain size distribution in this size range or the redshift evolution of the intergalactic dust. Stacking X-ray images of AGN can be used to improve our constraints and diminish the importance of dust as a source of systematic uncertainty for future supernova surveys which aim to improve the precision on measuring the redshift evolution of the dark energy equation-of-state.     

Testing the starburst/AGN connection with SWIRE X-ray/70 μm sources

We explore the nature of X-ray sources with  70 μm  counterparts selected in the Spitzer Wide-Area Infrared Extragalactic Survey (SWIRE) fields: ELAIS-N1, Lockman Hole and Chandra Deep Field South, for which Chandra X-ray data are available. A total of 28 X-ray/  70 μm  sources in the redshift interval  0.5 < z < 1.3  are selected. The X-ray luminosities and the shape of the X-ray spectra show that these sources are active galactic nuclei (AGN). Modelling of the optical to far-infrared (IR) spectral energy distribution indicates that most of them (27/28) have a strong starburst component  (>50 M_⊙ yr⁻¹)  that dominates in the IR. It is found that the X-ray and IR luminosities of the sample sources are broadly correlated, consistent with a link between AGN activity and star formation. Contrary to the predictions of some models for the co-evolution of AGN and galaxies, the X-ray/  70 μm  sources in the sample are not more obscured at X-ray wavelengths compared to the overall X-ray population. It is also found that the X-ray/  70 μm  sources have lower specific star formation rates compared to the general  70 μm  population, consistent with AGN feedback moderating the star formation in the host galaxies.     

Constraints on cosmological and biasing models using active galactic nucleus clustering

We attempt to put constraints on different cosmological and biasing models by combining the recent clustering results of X-ray sources in the local ( z ≤0.1) and distant Universe ( z ∼1) . To this end we compare the measured angular correlation function for bright (Akylas et al.) and faint (Vikhlinin & Forman) ROSAT X-ray sources respectively with those expected in three spatially flat cosmological models. Taking into account the different functional forms of the bias evolution, we find that there are two cosmological models which match the data well. In particular, low-Ω_○ cosmological models (Ω_Λ=1−Ω_○=0.7) that contain either (i) high σ ₈^mass=1.13 value with galaxy merging bias, b ( z )∝(1+ z )^1.8 or (ii) low σ ₈^mass=0.9 with non-bias, b ( z ) ≡ 1 best reproduce the AGN clustering results, while τ CDM models with different bias behaviour are ruled out at a high significance level.     

Clustering of X-ray selected active galactic nuclei

A total of 235 active galactic nuclei (AGN) from two different soft X-ray surveys [the ROSAT Deep Survey (DRS) and the ROSAT International X-ray Optical Survey (RIXOS)] with redshifts between 0 and 3.5 are used to study the clustering of X-ray selected AGN and its evolution. A 2σ significant detection of clustering of such objects is found on scales < 40–80 h ⁻¹ Mpc in the RIXOS sample, while no clustering is detected on any scales in the DRS sample. Assuming a single power-law model for the spatial correlation function (SCF), quantitative limits on the AGN clustering have been obtained: a comoving correlation length 1.5 ≲  r ₀ ≲ 3.3  h ⁻¹ Mpc is implied for comoving evolution, while 1.9 ≲  r ₀ ≲ 4.8 for stable clustering and 2.2 ≲  r ₀ ≲ 5.5 for linear evolution. These values are consistent with the correlation lengths and evolutions obtained for galaxy samples, but imply smaller amplitude or faster evolution than recent ultraviolet and optically selected AGN samples. We also constrain the ratio of bias parameters between X-ray selected AGN and IRAS galaxies to be ≲ 1.7 on scales ≲ 10  h ⁻¹ Mpc, a somewhat smaller value than is inferred from local large-scale dynamical studies.     

A survey of hard spectrum ROSAT sources – II. Optical identification of hard sources

We have surveyed 188 ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) fields for X-ray sources with hard spectra ( α <0.5); such sources must be major contributors to the X-ray background at faint fluxes. In this paper we present optical identifications for 62 of these sources: 28 active galactic nuclei (AGN) which show broad lines in their optical spectra (BLAGN), 13 narrow emission line galaxies (NELGs), five galaxies with no visible emission lines, eight clusters and eight Galactic stars.
The BLAGN, NELGs and galaxies have similar distributions of X-ray flux and spectra. Their ROSAT spectra are consistent with their being AGN obscured by columns of 20.5< log( N _H/cm⁻²)<23 . The hard spectrum BLAGN have a distribution of X-ray to optical ratios which is similar to that found for AGN from soft X-ray surveys (1< α _OX<2) . However, a relatively large proportion (15 per cent) of the BLAGN, NELGs and galaxies are radio loud. This could be because the radio jets in these objects produce intrinsically hard X-ray emission, or if their hardness is caused by absorption, it could be because radio-loud objects are more X-ray luminous than radio-quiet objects. The eight hard sources identified as clusters of galaxies are the brightest, and softest group of sources and hence clusters are unlikely to be an important component of the hard, faint population.
We propose that BLAGN are likely to constitute a significant fraction of the faint, hard, 0.5–2 keV population and could be important to reproducing the shape of the X-ray background, because they are the most numerous type of object in our sample (comprising almost half the identified sources), and because all our high redshift ( z >1) identified hard sources have broad lines.     

ASCA spectroscopy of the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 6240: X-ray emission from a starburst and a buried active nucleus

We present an X-ray spectroscopic study of the prototype far-infrared galaxy NGC 6240 from ASCA . The soft X-ray spectrum (below 2 keV) shows clear signatures of thermal emission well described by a multitemperature optically thin plasma, which probably originates in a powerful starburst. Strong hard X-ray emission is also detected with ASCA and its spectrum above 3 keV is extremely flat with a prominent iron K line complex, very similar to that seen in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 but about an order of magnitude more luminous ( L _3−10keV ≈ 1.4 × 10⁴² erg s⁻¹). The hard X-ray spectrum indicates that only reflected X-rays of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) buried in a heavy obscuration ( N _H > 2 × 10²⁴ cm⁻²) are visible. This is evidence for an AGN in NGC 6240, emitting possibly at a quasar luminosity (∼ 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹), and suggests its significant contribution to the far-infrared luminosity.     

Chandra High-Resolution Camera observations of the luminous X-ray source in the starburst galaxy M82

We analyse Chandra High Resolution Camera observations of the starburst galaxy M82, concentrating on the most luminous X-ray source. We find a position for the source of         (J2000) with a 1 σ radial error of 0.7 arcsec. The accurate X-ray position shows that the luminous source is neither at the dynamical centre of M82 nor coincident with any suggested radio AGN candidate. The source is highly variable between observations, which suggests that it is a compact object and not a supernova or remnant. There is no significant short-term variability within the observations. Dynamical friction and the off-centre position place an upper bound of 10⁵–10⁶ M_⊙ on the mass of the object, depending on its age. The X-ray luminosity suggests a compact object mass of at least 500 M_⊙. Thus the luminous source in M82 may represent a new class of compact object with a mass intermediate between those of stellar-mass black hole candidates and supermassive black holes.     

XMM–Newton and Chandra observations of SHEEP sources

We present Chandra and XMM–Newton observations of 12 bright  [ f (2–10 keV) > 10⁻¹³ erg cm⁻² s⁻¹]  sources from the ASCA search for the High Energy Extragalactic Population (SHEEP) survey. Most of these have been either not observed or not detected previously with the ROSAT mission, and therefore they constitute a sample biased towards hard sources. The Chandra observations are important in locating the optical counterpart of the X-ray sources with accuracy. Optical spectroscopic observations show that our sample is associated with both narrow-line (NL) (six objects) and broad-line (BL) active galactic nuclei (AGN) (five objects), with one source remaining unidentified. Our sources cover the redshift range 0.04–1.29, spanning luminosities from 10⁴² to  10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹  (2–10 keV). The NL sources have preferentially lower redshift (and luminosity) compared to the BL ones. This can be most easily explained in a model where the NL AGN are intrinsically less luminous than the BL ones in line with the results of Steffen et al. The X-ray spectral fittings show a roughly equal number of obscured  ( N _H > 10²² cm⁻²)  and unobscured  ( N _H < 10²² cm⁻²)  sources. There is a clear tendency for obscured sources to be associated with NL AGN and unobscured sources with BL ones. However, there is a marked exception with the highest obscuring column observed at a BL AGN at a redshift of z = 0.5.     

The obscured QSO 1SAX J1218.9+2958

We present results from XMM–Newton observations of the obscured quasi-stellar object 1SAX J1218.9+2958. We find that the previously reported optical and soft X-ray counterpart positions are incorrect. However, we confirm the spectroscopic redshift of 0.176. The optical counterpart has a K magnitude of 13.5 and an R – K colour of 5.0 and is therefore a bright extremely red object. The X-ray spectrum is well described by a power law  (Γ= 2.0 ± 0.2)  absorbed by an intrinsic neutral column density of  8.2^+1.1_−0.7× 10²² cm⁻²  . We find that any scattered emission contributes at most 0.5 per cent to the total X-ray flux. From the optical/near-infrared colour we estimate that the active nucleus must contribute at least 50 per cent of the total flux in the K band and that the ratio of extinction to X-ray absorption is 0.1–0.7 times that expected from a Galactic dust–gas ratio and extinction curve. If 1SAX J1218.9+2958 were 100 times less luminous it would be indistinguishable from the population responsible for most of the 2–10 keV X-ray background. This has important implications for the optical/infrared properties of faint absorbed X-ray sources.     

Chandra measurements of the X-ray core and cluster of 3C 220.1

We report results of an 18-ks exposure with the ACIS instrument on Chandra of the powerful z =0.62 radio galaxy 3C 220.1. The X-ray emission separates into cluster gas of emission-weighted kT ∼5 keV , 0.7–12 keV luminosity (to a radius of 45 arcsec) of 5.6×10⁴⁴ erg s⁻¹ and unresolved emission (coincident with the radio core). While the extended X-ray emission is clearly thermal in nature, a straightforward cooling-flow model, even in conjunction with a point-source component, is a poor fit to the radial profile of the X-ray emission. This is despite the fact that the measured properties of the gas suggest a massive cooling flow of ∼130 M_⊙ yr⁻¹, and the data show weak evidence for a temperature gradient. The central unresolved X-ray emission has a power-law spectral energy index α ∼0.7 and 0.7–12 keV luminosity of 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹, and any intrinsic absorption is relatively small. The two-point spectrum of the core emission between radio and X-ray energies has α _rx=0.75 . Since this is a flatter spectrum than seen in other sources where the X-ray emission is presumed to be radio-related, regions close to the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in this source may dominate the central X-ray output, as is believed to be the case for lobe-dominated quasars. Simple unification models would be challenged if this were found to be the case for a large fraction of high-power radio galaxies.     

The HELLAS2XMM survey – XII. The infrared/submillimetre view of an X-ray selected type 2 quasar at z≈ 2

We present multiwavelength observations (from optical to submillimetre, including Spitzer and Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array) of H2XMMJ 003357.2−120038 (also GD 158_19), an X-ray selected, luminous narrow-line (type 2) quasar at   z = 1.957  selected from the HELLAS2XMM survey. Its broad-band properties can be reasonably well modelled assuming three components: a stellar component to account for the optical and near-infrared (IR) emission; an active galactic nucleus (AGN) component (i.e. dust heated by an accreting active nucleus), dominant in the mid-IR, with an optical depth at 9.7      along the line of sight (close to the equatorial plane of the obscuring matter) of  τ(9.7) = 1  and a full covering angle of the reprocessing matter (torus) of 140° and a far-IR starburst component (i.e. dust heated by star formation) to reproduce the wide bump observed longward of 70      .
The derived star formation rate is  ≈1500 M_⊙ yr⁻¹  . The overall modelling indicates that GD 158_19 is a high-redshift X-ray luminous, obscured quasar with coeval powerful AGN activity and intense star formation. It is probably caught before the process of expelling the obscuring gas has started, thus quenching the star formation.     

X-ray-selected active galactic nuclei with red optical continua

We discuss the properties of X-ray-selected 'red' active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the RIXOS sample. These are Seyfert 1 galaxies and quasars whose optical continua are relatively soft, i.e. with an energy index, α_opt > 2. There are 14 objects in the RIXOS sample that satisfy this criterion and they cover a range in redshift from z  = 0.08 to 1.27. Of these, two have characteristics that suggest that the continuum is intrinsically red, i.e. an optical continuum which does not appear to have been significantly reddened by dust or to have contaminating light from the host galaxy. A further three objects show evidence of being absorbed by cold gas and dust with columns of up to ∼ 10²² cm⁻². The data are inconclusive on the remaining AGN.     

Submillimetre detection of a high-redshift type 2 QSO

We report on the first SCUBA detection of a type 2 QSO at   z = 3.660  in the Chandra Deep Field South. This source is X-ray-absorbed, shows only narrow emission lines in the optical spectrum and is detected in the submillimetre: it is the ideal candidate in an evolution scheme for active galactic nuclei (AGN) (e.g. Fabian 1999 ; Page et al. 2004 ) of an early phase corresponding to the main growth of the host galaxy and formation of the central black hole. The overall photometry (from the radio to the X-ray energy band) of this source is well reproduced by the spectral energy distribution (SED) of NGC 6240, while it is incompatible with the spectrum of a type 1 QSO (3C 273) or a starburst galaxy (Arp 220). Its submillimetre (850 μm) to X-ray (2 keV) spectral slope  (α_SX)  is close to the predicted value for a Compton-thick AGN in which only 1 per cent of the nuclear emission emerges through scattering. Using the observed flux at 850 μm we have derived a star formation rate of  550–680 M_⊙ yr⁻¹  and an estimate of the dust mass   M _dust= 4.2 × 10⁸ M_⊙  .     

The blazar GB 1428+4217: a warm absorber at z=4.72?

BeppoSAX observations of the high-redshift ( z =4.72) blazar GB 1428+4217 confirm the presence of a complex soft X-ray spectrum first seen with the ROSAT PSPC. Flattening below a rest-frame energy of 5 keV can be accounted for by absorption from an equivalent column density of (cold) gas with N _H∼8×10²² cm⁻² . Below 2 keV a (variable) excess of a factor of ∼20 above the extrapolated absorbed spectrum is also detected. These findings are consistent with and extend to higher redshifts the correlation between increasing soft X-ray flattening and increasing z , previously pointed out for large samples of radio-loud quasars. We propose that such features, including X-ray absorption and soft excess emission as well as absorption in the optical spectra, can be satisfactorily accounted for by the presence of a highly ionized nuclear absorber with column N _H∼10²³ cm⁻² , with properties possibly related to the conditions in the nuclear regions of the host galaxy. High-energy X-ray emission consistent with the extrapolation of the medium-energy spectrum is detected up to ∼300 keV (rest frame).     

Host galaxy morphologies of X-ray selected AGN: assessing the significance of different black hole fuelling mechanisms to the accretion density of the Universe at z∼ 1.

We use morphological information of X-ray selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) hosts to set limits on the fraction of the accretion density of the Universe at   z ≈ 1  that is not likely to be associated with major mergers. Deep X-ray observations are combined with high-resolution optical data from the Hubble Space Telescope in the All-wavelength Extended Groth strip International Survey, Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) North and GOODS South fields to explore the morphological breakdown of X-ray sources in the redshift interval  0.5 < z < 1.3  . The sample is split into discs, early-type bulge-dominated galaxies, peculiar systems and point sources in which the nuclear source outshines the host galaxy. The X-ray luminosity function and luminosity density of AGN at   z ≈ 1  are then calculated as a function of morphological type. We find that disc-dominated hosts contribute  30 ± 9  per cent to the total AGN space density and  23 ± 6  per cent to the luminosity density at   z ≈ 1  . We argue that AGN in disc galaxies are most likely fuelled not by major merger events but by minor interactions or internal instabilities. We find evidence that these mechanisms may be more efficient in producing luminous AGN     compared to predictions for the stochastic fuelling of massive black holes in disc galaxies.