The Accretion History of AGN: The Spectral Energy Distributions of X-Ray-luminous Active Galactic Nuclei

Abstract

Spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from X-ray to far-infrared (FIR) wavelengths are presented for a sample of 1246 X-ray-luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs; L0.5–10 keV > 1043 erg s−1), with zspec < 1.2, selected from Stripe 82X, COSMOS, and GOODS-N/S. The rest-frame SEDs show a wide spread (∼2.5 dex) in the relative strengths of broad continuum features at X-ray, ultraviolet (UV), mid-infrared (MIR), and FIR wavelengths. A linear correlation (log–log slope of 0.7 ± 0.04) is found between LMIR and LX. There is significant scatter in the relation between the LUV and LX owing to heavy obscuration; however, the most luminous and unobscured AGNs show a linear correlation (log–log slope of 0.8 ± 0.06) in the relation above this scatter. The relation between LFIR and LX is predominantly flat, but with decreasing dispersion at LX > 1044 erg s−1. The ratio between the "galaxy-subtracted" bolometric luminosity and the intrinsic LX increases from a factor of ∼10 to 70 from log Lbol/(erg s−1) = 44.5 to 46.5. Characteristic SED shapes have been determined by grouping AGNs based on relative strengths of the UV and MIR emission. The average L1μm is constant for the majority of these SED shapes, while AGNs with the strongest UV and MIR emission have elevated L1μm, consistent with the AGN emission dominating their SEDs at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. A strong correlation is found between the SED shape and both the LX and Lbol, such that Lbol/LX = 20.4 ± 1.8, independent of the SED shape. This is consistent with an evolutionary scenario of increasing Lbol with decreasing obscuration as the AGN blows away circumnuclear gas.