A New Sample of Obscured AGNs Selected from the XMM-Newton and AKARI Surveys

We report a new sample of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected from the XMM-Newton serendipitous source and AKARI point-source catalogs. We match X-ray sources with infrared (18 and 90 μm) sources located at | b| \gt 10^\circ to create a sample consisting of 173 objects. Their optical classifications and absorption column densities measured by X-ray spectra are compiled and study efficient selection criteria to find obscured AGNs. We apply the criteria (1) X-ray hardness ratio defined by using the 2-4.5 keV and 4.5-12 keV bands > -0.1 and (2) EPIC-PN count rate (CR) in the 0.2-12 keV to infrared flux ratio CR/{F}₉₀\lt 0.1 or CR/{F}₁₈\lt 1, where F₁₈ and F₉₀ are infrared fluxes at 18 and 90 μm in Jy, respectively, to search for obscured AGNs. X-ray spectra of 48 candidates, for which no X-ray results have been published, are analyzed and X-ray evidence for the presence of obscured AGNs such as a convex shape X-ray spectrum indicative of absorption of {N}_{{H}} ∼ 10^22-24 cm^-2, a very flat continuum, or a strong Fe-K emission line with an equivalent width of \gt 700 {{eV}} is found in 26 objects. Six of them are classified as Compton-thick AGNs, and four are represented by either Compton-thin or Compton-thick spectral models. The success rate of finding obscured AGNs combining our analysis and the literature is 92% if the 18 μm condition is used. Of the 26 objects, 4 are optically classified as an H ii nucleus and are new “elusive AGNs” in which star formation activity likely overwhelms AGN emission in the optical and infrared bands.