Characterising the Far-infrared Properties of Distant X-ray Detected AGNs: Evidence for Evolution in the Infrared--X-ray Luminosity Ratio

TL;DR

This study examines the far-infrared properties of distant X-ray detected AGNs, revealing an evolution in the infrared--X-ray luminosity ratio with redshift, which impacts the identification of obscured AGNs and understanding of their host galaxies.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the evolution of the infrared--X-ray luminosity ratio of AGNs up to z~2, using stacking analyses and flux ratio diagnostics to distinguish AGN and starburst contributions.

Findings

High-redshift AGNs have higher L_IR/L_X ratios than local AGNs.

The 70um/24um flux ratio can differentiate between AGN-dominated and starburst-dominated systems.

L_IR/L_X ratios of certain AGNs increase with redshift, suggesting evolution in dust covering or star formation.

Abstract

(Abridged) We investigate the far-infrared properties of X-ray sources detected in the Chandra Deep Field-South (CDF-S) survey using the ultra-deep 70um and 24um Spitzer observations taken in this field. We rely on stacking analyses of the 70um data to characterise the average 70um properties of the X-ray sources. Using Spitzer-IRS data of the Swift-BAT sample of z~0 active galactic nuclei (hereafter, AGNs), we show that the 70um/24um flux ratio can distinguish between AGN-dominated and starburst-dominated systems out to z~1.5. From stacking analysis we find that both high redshift and z~0 AGNs follow the same tendency toward warmer 70um/24um colours with increasing X-ray luminosity (L_X). We also show that the 70um flux can be used to determine the infrared (8-1000um) luminosities of high redshift AGNs. We use this information to show that L_X=10^{42-43} erg/s AGNs at high redshifts (z=1-2) have infrared to X-ray luminosity ratios (hereafter, L_IR/L_X) that are, on average, 4.7_{-2.0}^{+10.2} and 12.7^{+7.1}_{-2.6} times higher than AGNs with similar X-ray luminosities at z=0.5-1 and z~0, respectively. By comparison, we find that the L_IR/L_X ratios of L_X=10^{43-44} erg/s AGNs remain largely unchanged across this same redshift interval. We explore the consequences that these results may have on the identification of distant, potentially Compton thick AGNs using L_IR/L_X ratios. We discuss possible scenarios for the observed increase in the L_IR/L_X ratio with redshift, including changes in the dust covering factor of AGNs and/or the star formation rates of their host galaxies. Finally, we show how deep observations to be undertaken by the Herschel Space Observatory will enable us to discriminate between these proposed scenarios and also identify Compton-thick AGNs at high redshifts.