The AGN content in luminous IR galaxies at z\sim2 from a global SED analysis including Herschel data

TL;DR

This study combines Herschel far-infrared data with multi-band and X-ray observations to analyze the active galactic nucleus (AGN) contribution in luminous IR galaxies at z~2, revealing that AGNs are present but contribute minimally to the total IR emission.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive SED decomposition method including Herschel data and smooth-torus AGN modeling to quantify AGN contributions in high-redshift luminous IR galaxies.

Findings

AGN present in 35% of sources, contributing ~5% to total IR emission

AGN contribution increases to ~23% in the 5-30 μm range

X-ray data confirm obscured AGN in some sources

Abstract

We use Herschel-PACS far-infrared data, combined with previous multi-band information and mid-IR spectra, to properly account for the presence of an active nucleus and constrain its energetic contribution in luminous infrared (IR) sources at z\sim2. The sample is composed of 24 sources in the GOODS-South field, with typical IR luminosity of 10^{12} Lo. Data from the 4 Ms Chandra X-ray imaging in this field are also used to identify and characterize AGN emission. We reproduce the observed spectral energy distribution (SED), decomposed into a host-galaxy and an AGN component. A smooth-torus model for circum-nuclear dust is used to account for the direct and re-processed contribution from the AGN. We confirm that galaxies with typical L_{8-1000um}\sim10^{12}Lo at z\sim2 are powered predominantly by star-formation. An AGN component is present in nine objects (\sim35% of the sample) at the 3sigma confidence level, but its contribution to the 8-1000 um emission accounts for only \sim5% of the energy budget. The AGN contribution rises to \sim23% over the 5-30 um range (in agreement with Spitzer IRS results) and to \sim60% over the narrow 2-6 um range. The presence of an AGN is confirmed by X-ray data for 3 (out of nine) sources, with X-ray spectral analysis indicating the presence of significant absorption, i.e. NH\sim10^{23}-10^{24} cm^{-2}. An additional source shows indications of obscured AGN emission from X-ray data. The comparison between the mid-IR--derived X-ray luminosities and those obtained from X-ray data suggests that obscuration is likely present also in the remaining six sources that harbour an AGN according to the SED-fitting analysis.