The NuSTAR Extragalactic Survey: A First Look at the Distant High-Energy X-ray Background Population
Abstract
One of the primary tasks of the recently launched NuSTAR observatory is to complete an extragalactic survey and provide a sensitive census of the cosmic X-ray background (XRB) source population at >10 keV. Here we report on the first seven identifications of NuSTAR sources serendipitously detected in the NuSTAR extragalactic survey. These NuSTAR-detected sources are approximatel 100 times fainter than those previously detected at >10 keV and have a very broad range in redshift and luminosity (z 0.020-2.923 and L10-40 keV ≈ 4×1041-5×1045 erg s-1). We characterise these sources on the basis of X-ray spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, and broad band optical-mid-infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) analyses. We find a broad range of AGN properties, from low-luminosity AGNs to moderate-high luminosity obscured and unobscured systems. We briefly discuss these results in terms of the overall expected XRB source population.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #13
- Pub Date:
- April 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013HEAD...1330004B