The ultra-deep XMM survey in the CDFS: X-ray spectroscopy of heavily obscured AGN

TL;DR

This study uses ultra-deep XMM-Newton observations in the CDFS to analyze the X-ray spectra of heavily obscured and Compton-thick AGN, aiming to understand their properties and contribution to the X-ray background across a wide redshift range.

Contribution

It provides detailed X-ray spectral analysis of over 100 obscured AGN at high redshifts, enhancing understanding of their absorption characteristics and cosmic evolution.

Findings

Spectra for over 100 AGN analyzed

Absorption distribution characterized up to z~4

Insights into AGN contribution to X-ray background

Abstract

We present selected results on the X-ray spectroscopy of distant, obscured AGN as obtained with the ultra-deep (~3 Ms) XMM-Newton survey in the Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S). One of the primary goals of the project is to characterize the X-ray spectral properties of heavily obscured and Compton-thick AGN over the range of redshifts and luminosities that are relevant in terms of their contribution to the X-ray background. The ultra-deep exposure, coupled with the XMM detector's spectral throughput, allowed us to accumulate X-ray spectra for more than 100 AGN to investigate the absorption distribution up to z~4.