Chandra Observations of Galaxy Zoo Mergers: Frequency of Binary Active Nuclei in Massive Mergers

Abstract

We present the results from a Chandra pilot study of 12 massive galaxy mergers selected from Galaxy Zoo. The sample includes major mergers down to a host galaxy mass of 10${}^{11}$ $M_{\odot }$ that already have optical AGN signatures in at least one of the progenitors. We find that the coincidences of optically selected active nuclei with mildly obscured ($N_H\lesssim 1.1\times 10^{22}$ cm${}^{-2}$) X-ray nuclei are relatively common (8/12), but the detections are too faint ($<40$ counts per nucleus; $f_{2-10keV}\lesssim 1.2\times 10^{-13}$ erg s${}^{-1}$ cm${}^{-2}$) to reliably separate starburst and nuclear activity as the origin of the X-ray emission. Only one merger is found to have confirmed binary X-ray nuclei, though the X-ray emission from its southern nucleus could be due solely to star formation. Thus, the occurrences of binary AGN in these mergers are rare (0-8%), unless most merger-induced active nuclei are very heavily obscured or Compton thick.

8 pages, including 5 figures and 1 table. Accepted by ApJ

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