The Evolution of Obscuration in AGN

Abstract

In order to study the evolution of the relative fraction of obscured Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) we constructed the largest sample to date of AGN selected in hard X-rays. The full sample contains 2341 X-ray-selected AGN, roughly 4 times the largest previous samples studied in this connection. Of these, 1229 (53%) have optical counterparts for which redshifts are available; these span the redshift range $z$=0-4. The observed fraction of obscured AGN declines only slightly with redshift. Correcting for selection bias, we find that the intrinsic fraction of obscured AGN must actually increase with redshift, as (1+$z$)${}^{\alpha }$, with $\alpha$$\simeq 0.4\pm$0.1. This evolution is consistent with the integrated X-ray background, which provides the strongest constraints at relatively low redshift, $z\sim$1. Summing over all AGN, we estimate the bolometric AGN light to be 3.8 nW m${}^{-2}$ sr${}^{-1}$, or $\lesssim$8% of the total extragalactic light. Together with the observed black hole mass density in the local Universe, this implies an accretion efficiency of $\eta \sim$0.1-0.2, consistent with the values typically assumed.

12 pages, 2 figures, accepted for Astrophysical Journal Letters

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