X-ray spectroscopy and variability of AGN detected in the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North Survey |
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Authors: | FE Bauer C Vignali DM Alexander WN Brandt GP Garmire AE Hornschemeier PS Broos LK Townsley DP Schneider |
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Institution: | Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 525 Davey Lab, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA |
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Abstract: | We investigate the nature of the faint X-ray source population through X-ray spectroscopy and variability analyses of 136 active galactic nuclei (AGN) detected in the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North Survey with >200 background-subtracted 0.5–8.0 keV counts F0.5–8.0 keV = (1.4−200) × 10−15 erg cm−2 s−1]. Our preliminary spectral analyses yield median spectral parameters of Γ = 1.61 and intrinsic NH = 6.2 × 1021 cm−2 (z = 1 assumed when no redshift available) when the AGN spectra are fitted with a simple absorbed power-law model. However, considerable spectral complexity is apparent (e.g., reflection, partial covering) and must be taken into account to model the data accurately. Moreover, the choice of spectral model (i.e., free vs. fixed photon index) has a pronounced effect on the derived JVH distribution and, to a lesser extent, the X-ray luminosity distribution. We also find that among the 136 AGN, 10 (≈7%) show significant Fe K emission-line features with equivalent widths in the range 0.1–1.3 keV. Two of these emission-line AGN could potentially be Compton thick (i.e., Γ < 1.0 and large Fe K equivalent width). Finally, we find that 81 (≈60%) of the 136 AGN show signs of variability, and that this fraction increases significantly (≈80–90%) when better photon statistics are available. |
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Keywords: | 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North Survey X-ray spectroscopy Variability of AGN |
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