A hard X-ray view of the AGN population with the NuSTAR serendipitous survey
Abstract
New insights into AGN are being provided by NuSTAR, the first focusing telescope with high sensitivity at hard X-ray energies (E>8 keV), and therefore close to the peak of the cosmic X-ray background (CXB). The NuSTAR serendipitous survey is the largest blind survey performed with NuSTAR, with 13 sq. degrees of coverage (over the first 40 months), and has yielded a large sample of 500 hard X-ray sources (primarily AGNs). I will present X-ray and multi-wavelength properties of the NuSTAR survey sources, comparing to local hard X-ray samples (e.g., from Swift BAT). An important part of the AGN census is to identify and characterise the most highly obscured (Compton-thick) AGNs, which may contribute a large fraction of the overall cosmic growth of black holes, but are normally hidden from view by gas and dust. The NuSTAR survey is beginning to uncover new Compton-thick AGNs which were elusive at other wavelengths, thus informing AGN population models.
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E1934L