Active Galactic Nuclei Luminosity Research Articles

Characterizing the luminosity components of luminous infrared galaxies in multi-wavelength from the X-ray to the far-infrared

We characterize luminosity components of Ultra/Luminous Infrared Galaxies (U/LIRGs) in multi-wavelength from the X-ray to far-infrared. A set of 63 AGN U/LIRGs was selected where these galaxies are powered by a central active galactic nucleus (AGN). Utilizing the X-CIGALE code, SEDs for these galaxies are carried out where their SEDs are fitted with observations. Accordingly, the physical parameters such as the stellar mass, the dust-to-gas mass ratio, and the star formation rate are calculated. The total luminosity and its decomposed components (stellar, AGN, X-ray) are also calculated. We characterized these luminosities in relative to the intrinsic luminosity and in relative to each other. As a function of the stellar mass, these luminosities reveal an increase with different correlation coefficients, showing a strong correlation. In correlation with the intrinsic AGN power, the stellar, AGN, and X-ray luminosities are strongly correlates in their variation to the intrinsic AGN luminosity, showing stronger correlations of AGN, and X-ray luminosities than those of the stellar one. In relationships between various luminosity components, both the stellar and X-ray luminosities reveal strong correlations with the AGN luminosity. On the other hand, the X-ray luminosity varies strongly with the stellar luminosity and moderately with IR luminosity. Compared to obscured AGN galaxies, both the stellar and AGN luminosities similarly vary with increasing the intrinsic power of the active nucleus but for obscured AGN they are faster in their variation than that of U/LIRG. These correlations may offer valuable insights to understand the physical properties and their relationships through the evolution of U/LIRGs.

Exploring the properties of the obscured hyperluminous quasar COS-87259 at z = 6.853

ABSTRACT In this paper we explore the properties of the $z=6.853$ obscured hyperluminous quasar COS-87259, discovered in the Cosmological Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field, with our recently developed Bayesian spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting code SMART (Spectral energy distributions Markov chain Analysis with Radiative Transfer models). SMART fits SEDs exclusively with multicomponent radiative transfer models that constitute four different types of pre-computed libraries for the active galactic nucleus (AGN) torus, the starburst, and the spheroidal or disc host. We explore two smooth radiative transfer models for the AGN torus and two two-phase models, in order to put constraints on the AGN fraction of the galaxy, the black hole mass, and its star formation rate (SFR). We find that either of the smooth tapered disc or the two-phase flared disc models provide a good fit to the SED of COS-87259. The best-fitting models predict an AGN fraction in the range $86-92$ per cent, a bolometric AGN luminosity of $5.8-10.3 \times 10^{13} L_\odot$, a black hole mass of $1.8-3.2 \times 10^{9} M_\odot$ (assuming the quasar is accreting at the Eddington limit), and an SFR in the range $1985-2001~M_\odot \rm yr^{-1}$. The predicted space density of such objects in the redshift range $4-7$ is $\sim 20$ times more than that of co-eval unobscured quasars.

VLTI/GRAVITY interferometric measurements of the innermost dust structure sizes around active galactic nuclei

We present new Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI)/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometric measurements of the angular size of the innermost hot dust continuum for 14 type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The angular sizes are resolved on scales of ∼0.7 mas and the inferred ring radii range from 0.028 to 1.33 pc, comparable to those reported previously and a factor of 10−20 smaller than the mid-infrared sizes in the literature. Combining our new data with previously published values, we compiled a sample of 25 AGNs with bolometric luminosity ranging from 1042 to 1047 erg s−1, with which we studied the radius-luminosity (R − L) relation for the hot dust structure. Our interferometric measurements of radius are offset by a factor of 2 from the equivalent relation derived through reverberation mapping. Using a simple model to explore the dust structure’s geometry, we conclude that this offset can be explained if the 2 μm emitting surface has a concave shape. Our data show that the slope of the relation is in line with the canonical R ∝ L0.5 when using an appropriately non-linear correction for bolometric luminosity. In contrast, using optical luminosity or applying a constant bolometric correction to it results in a significant deviation in the slope, suggesting a potential luminosity dependence on the spectral energy distribution. Over four orders of magnitude in luminosity, the intrinsic scatter around the R − L relation is 0.2 dex, suggesting a tight correlation between the innermost hot dust structure size and the AGN luminosity.

Blowing Star Formation Away in Active Galactic Nuclei Hosts. I. Observation of Warm Molecular Outflows with JWST MIRI

We use the James Webb Space Telescope Mid-Infrared Instrument medium-resolution spectrometer observations of the radio-loud active galactic nucleus (AGN) host UGC 8782 to map the warm molecular and ionized gas kinematics. The data reveal spatially resolved outflows in the inner 2 kpc, seen in low ionization (traced by the [Ar ii] 6.99 μm emission) and in warm molecular gas (traced by the H2 rotational transitions). We find a maximum mass-outflow rate of 4.90 ± 2.04 M ⊙ yr−1 at ∼900 pc from the nucleus for the warm outflow (198 K ≤ T ≤ 1000 K) and estimate an outflow rate of up to 1.22 ± 0.51 M ⊙ yr−1 for the hotter gas phase (T > 1000 K). These outflows can clear the entire nuclear reservoir of warm molecular gas in about 1 Myr. The derived kinetic power of the molecular outflows leads to coupling efficiencies of 2%–5% of the AGN luminosity, way above the minimum expected for the AGN feedback to be effective in quenching the star formation.

Prior-informed Active Galactic Nucleus Host Spectral Decomposition Using PyQSOFit

We introduce an improved method for decomposing the emission of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and their host galaxies using templates from principal component analysis (PCA). This approach integrates prior information from PCA with a penalized pixel fitting mechanism that improves the precision and effectiveness of the decomposition process. Specifically, we have reduced the degeneracy and overfitting in AGN host decomposition, particularly for those with low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), where traditional methods tend to fail. By applying our method to 76,565 Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 16 quasars with z < 0.8, we achieve a success rate of ≈94%, thus establishing the largest host-decomposed spectral catalog of quasars to date. Our fitting results consider the impact of the host galaxy on the overestimation of the AGN luminosity and black hole mass (M BH). Furthermore, we obtained stellar velocity dispersion (σ ⋆) measurements for 4137 quasars. The slope of the M BH−σ ⋆ relation in this subsample is generally consistent with previous quasar studies beyond the local Universe. Our method provides a robust and efficient approach to disentangle the AGN and host galaxy components across a wide range of SNRs and redshifts.

What Are the Pillars of Reionization? Revising the AGN Luminosity Function at z ∼ 5

In the past, high-z active galactic nuclei (AGNs) were given a minor role as possible drivers of reionization, despite initial evidence in favor of their large space densities at low luminosities by Chandra and the Hubble Space Telescope. Recent observations from JWST are finding relatively large numbers of faint AGNs at z > 4, convincingly confirming these early results. We present a sample of z ∼ 5 AGNs, both from wide, shallow ground-based surveys and from deep, pencil-beam observations from JWST, allowing us to estimate their space densities with unprecedented accuracy. The bright end (M 1450 < −26) of the z ∼ 5 AGN luminosity function is well constrained, with a rather steep slope. The faint end (M 1450 ≥ −22) indicates a high space density, the scatter is significant, and the knee (M 1450 ∼ −24) is mostly undetermined. Comparisons with state-of-the-art models find reasonable agreement with the observed AGN luminosity function at z = 5, while the predicted space density evolution at higher redshifts appears to be too fast with respect to observational constraints. Given the large variance at the faint end, we consider different options in fitting the luminosity functions and deriving the ionizing emissivity. Even in the most conservative scenario, the photoionization rate produced by z ∼ 5 AGNs is consistent with the ultraviolet background measurements. A slow evolution of the space density of faint AGNs is observed, indicating that active SMBHs are probably producing large amounts of ionizing photons at z > 6, well into the Epoch of Reionization. This is an important indication that high-z AGNs could be major contributors to the reionization of the Universe.

X-ray AGNs with SRG/eROSITA: multiwavelength observations reveal merger triggering and post-coalescence circumnuclear blowout

ABSTRACT Major mergers between galaxies are predicted to fuel their central supermassive black holes (SMBHs), particularly after coalescence. However, determining the prevalence of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in mergers remains a challenge, because AGN diagnostics are sensitive to details of the central structure (e.g. nuclear gas clouds, geometry, and orientation of a dusty torus) that are partly decoupled from SMBH accretion. X-rays, expected to be ubiquitous among accreting systems, are detectable through non-Compton-thick screens of obscuring material, and thus offer the potential for a more complete assessment of AGNs in mergers. But extant statistical X-ray studies of AGNs in mergers have been limited by either sparse, heterogeneous, or shallow on-sky coverage. We use new X-ray observations from the first SRG/eROSITA all-sky data release to characterize the incidence, luminosity, and observability of AGNs in mergers. Combining machine learning and visual classification, we identify 923 post-mergers in Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS) imaging and select 4565 interacting galaxy pairs (with separations &amp;lt;120 kpc and mass ratios within 1:10) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We find that galaxies with X-ray AGNs are 2.0$\pm$0.24 times as likely to be identified as post-mergers compared to non-AGN controls, and that post-mergers are 1.8$\pm$0.1 times as likely to host an X-ray AGN as non-interacting controls. A multiwavelength census of X-ray, optical, and mid-IR-selected AGNs suggests a picture wherein the underlying AGN fraction increases during pair-phase interactions, that galaxy pairs within ~20 kpc become heavily obscured, and that the obscuration often clears post-coalescence.

Disc novae: thermodynamics of gas-assisted binary black hole formation in AGN discs

ABSTRACT We investigate the thermodynamics of close encounters between stellar mass black holes (BHs) in the gaseous discs of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), during which binary black holes (BBHs) may form. We consider a suite of 2D viscous hydrodynamical simulations within a shearing box prescription using the Eulerian grid code athena++. We study formation scenarios where the fluid is either an isothermal gas or an adiabatic mixture of gas and radiation in local thermal equilibrium. We include the effects of viscous and shock heating, as well as optically thick cooling. We co-evolve the embedded BHs with the gas, keeping track of the energetic dissipation and torquing of the BBH by gas and inertial forces. We find that compared to the isothermal case, the minidiscs formed around each BH are significantly hotter and more diffuse, though BBH formation is still efficient. We observe massive blast waves arising from collisions between the radiative minidiscs during both the initial close encounter and subsequent periapsis periods for successfully bound BBHs. These ‘disc novae’ have a profound effect, depleting the BBH Hill sphere of gas and injecting energy into the surrounding medium. In analysing the thermal emission from these events, we observe periodic peaks in local luminosity associated with close encounters/periapses, with emission peaking in the optical/near-infrared (IR). In the AGN outskirts, these outbursts can reach 4 per cent of the AGN luminosity in the IR band, with flares rising over 0.5–1 yr. Collisions in different disc regions, or when treated in 3D with magnetism, may produce more prominent flares.

XMM–Newton Ultra Narrow Deep Field survey – II. X-ray spectral analysis of the brightest AGN population

ABSTRACT In this work, we present the results of a detailed X-ray spectral analysis of the brightest active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected in the XMM–Newton 1.75 Ms Ultra Narrow Deep Field. We analysed 23 AGNs that have a luminosity range of $\sim 10^{42} {\!-\!} 10^{46}\, \rm {erg}\, \rm {s}^{-1}$ in the $2 {\!-\!} 10\, \rm {keV}$ energy band, redshifts up to 2.66, and $\sim 10\,000$ X-ray photon counts in the $0.3{ \!-\! }10\, \rm {keV}$ energy band. Our analysis confirms the ‘Iwasawa–Taniguchi effect,’ an anticorrelation between the X-ray luminosity ($L_x$) and the Fe–k$\alpha$ equivalent width (${\rm EW}_{\rm Fe}$) possibly associated with the decreasing of the torus covering factor as the AGN luminosity increases. We investigated the relationship among black hole mass ($M_{\rm BH}$), $L_x$, and X-ray variability, quantified by the Normalized Excess Variance ($\sigma ^2_{\rm rms}$). Our analysis suggest an anticorrelation in both $M_{\rm BH} - \sigma ^2_{\rm rms}$ and $L_x- \sigma ^2_{\rm rms}$ relations. The first is described as $\sigma ^2_{\rm rms} \propto M^{-0.26 \pm 0.05}_{\rm BH}$, while the second presents a similar trend with $\sigma ^2_{\rm rms} \propto L_{x}^{-0.31 \pm 0.04}$. These results support the idea that the luminosity–variability anticorrelation is a byproduct of an intrinsic relationship between the BH mass and the X-ray variability, through the size of the emitting region. Finally, we found a strong correlation among the Eddington ratio ($\lambda _{\rm Edd}$), the hard X-ray photon index ($\Gamma$), and the illumination factor $\log (A)$, which is related to the ratio between the number of Compton scattered photons and the number of seed photons. The $\log (\lambda _{\rm Edd})-\Gamma -\log (A)$ plane could arise naturally from the connection between the accretion flow and the hot corona.

Ensemble Variability Properties of Active Galactic Nuclei in the SDSS DR17

We present the results from a study of ∼9600 broadline-selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with host galaxies detected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 17. We compute ensemble variability statistics based on a comparison of the original SDSS photometric data with spectrophotometric measurements obtained days to decades later in the Sloan g, r, and i bands. Galaxy and AGN templates have been fitted to the SDSS spectra to isolate the AGN component from the host galaxy. The sources have absolute magnitudes in the range −24 < M i < −18 and lie at redshifts less than z ∼ 0.9. A variability analysis reveals that the anticorrelation between luminosity and variability amplitude continues down to log(Lbol [erg s−1]) = 43.5, demonstrating that the relationship extends by 4 orders of magnitude in AGN luminosity. To further explore the connection between AGN luminosity and variability, we determine the black hole mass and the accretion rate through measurement of the Hβ line width and the monochromatic luminosity at rest frame 5100 Å. Our results suggest that the accretion rate is the dominant parameter impacting the amplitude of variability and that the anticorrelation between the accretion rate and amplitude extends to rates as low as 1% Eddington. Moreover, we also identify an anticorrelation between the variability amplitude and black hole mass, with the correlation appearing strongest among the AGNs with low accretion rates.

The Role of Active Galactic Nucleus Winds in Galaxy Formation: Connecting AGN Outflows at Low Redshifts to the Formation/Evolution of Their Host Galaxies

Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectra, we applied an automatic method to search for outflows (OFs) in three large samples of narrow-line active galactic nuclei (AGN) at low redshifts (z < 0.4), separated into three spectral activity classes: radio-loud galaxies (RGs), 15,793; radio-quiet Seyfert 2 AGN (Sy2), 18,585; and LINERs, 25,656. In general, the probability of detecting an OF decreases along the sequence Sy1→Sy2→LINER/RG and independently of the AGN class, the wind velocity, traced by W80, increases with the AGN luminosity. Moreover W80 is systematically higher in RGs or any of the other AGN classes when detected in radio. These results support the idea that there are two main modes of production of OF, the radiative mode dominant in radio-quiet AGN and the jet mode dominant in RGs, although both modes could also happen simultaneously at different levels. From the spectra and SDSS photometry, the characteristics of the AGN host galaxies and their supermassive black holes (SMBHs) were also retrieved using the stellar population synthesis code STARLIGHT. This revealed that, independently of the AGN spectral class, (1) galaxy hosts with OFs have systematically later morphological types and higher star formation rates (SFRs) than their counterparts without OF, (2) the AGN occupy different positions in the specific diagnostic diagram (specific black hole accretion rate (sBHAR) versus specific SFR), which suggests they follow different evolutionary paths congruent with the morphology of their galaxy hosts, and (3) they show no evidence of AGN quenching or triggering of star formation. These results are consistent with a scenario explaining the different AGN classes as consequences of different formation processes of galaxies: early-type galaxies (LINERs and RGs) formed bigger bulges and more massive SMBHs, exhausting their reservoir of gas more rapidly than late-type galaxies (Sy2 and Sy1), and thereby quenching their star formation and starving their SMBHs.

Finding dusty AGNs from the JWST CEERS survey with mid-infrared photometry

ABSTRACT The nature of the interaction between active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and their host galaxies remains an unsolved question. Therefore, conducting an AGN census is valuable for AGN research. Nevertheless, a significant fraction of AGNs are obscured by their environment, which blocks UV and optical emissions due to the dusty torus surrounding the central supermassive black hole (SMBH). To overcome this challenge, mid-infrared (IR) surveys have emerged as a valuable tool for identifying obscured AGNs, as the obscured light is re-emitted in this range. With its high sensitivity, the JWST uncovered more fainter objects than previous telescopes. By applying the SED fitting, this work investigates AGN candidates in JWST Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) fields. We identified 42 candidates; 30 of them are classified as composites ($0.2\le f_{\text{AGN, IR}} &amp;lt; 0.5$), and 12 of them are AGNs ($f_{\text{AGN, IR}}\ge 0.5$). We report the AGN luminosity contributions and AGN number fractions as a function of redshift and total infrared luminosity, showing that previously reported increasing relations are not apparent in our sample due to the sample size. We also extend the previous results on ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs, $L_{\rm TIR}\ge 10^{12} L_{\odot }$) to less luminous AGNs, highlighting the power of JWST.

Euclid preparation. XLV. Optical emission-line predictions of intermediate-z galaxy populations in GAEA for the Euclid Deep and Wide Surveys

In anticipation of the upcoming Euclid Wide and Deep Surveys, we present optical emission-line predictions at intermediate redshifts from 0.4 to 2.5. Our approach combines a mock light cone from the Gaea semi-analytic model with advanced photoionisation models to construct emission-line catalogues. This allows us to self-consistently model nebular emission from H ii regions around young stars, and, for the first time with a semi-analytic model, narrow-line regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and evolved stellar populations. Gaea Mpc $, marks the largest volume this set of models has been applied to. We validate our methodology against observational and theoretical data at low redshift. Our analysis focuses on seven optical emission lines: Halpha , Hbeta S ii N ii O i O iii 5007$, and O ii 3727, 3729$. In assessing selection bias, we find that it will predominantly observe line-emitting galaxies, which are massive (stellar mass $ solarmass $), star-forming (specific star-formation rate $&gt; 10^ yr^ $), and metal-rich (oxygen-to-hydrogen abundance $ logten(O/H)+12 &gt; 8$). We provide percentages of emission-line populations in our underlying Gaea sample with a mass resolution limit of $10^ solarmass $ and an $H$-band magnitude cut of 25. We compare results with and without an estimate of interstellar dust attenuation, which we model using a Calzetti law with a mass-dependent scaling. According to this estimate, the presence of dust may decrease observable percentages by a further 20-30&lt;!PCT!&gt; with respect to the overall population, which presents challenges for detecting intrinsically fainter lines. We predict to observe around 30--70&lt;!PCT!&gt; of Halpha - N ii S ii -, and O iii -emitting galaxies at redshift below 1. At higher redshift, these percentages decrease below 10&lt;!PCT!&gt;. Hbeta O ii and O i emission are expected to appear relatively faint, thus limiting observability to at most 5&lt;!PCT!&gt; at the lower end of their detectable redshift range, and below 1&lt;!PCT!&gt; at the higher end. This is the case both for these lines individually and in combination with other lines. For galaxies with line emission above the flux threshold in the Euclid Deep Survey, we find that BPT diagrams can effectively distinguish between different galaxy types up to around redshift 1.8, attributed to the bias toward metal-rich systems. Moreover, we show that the relationships of Halpha and O iii +Hbeta to the star-formation rate, as well as the O iii -AGN luminosity relation, exhibit minimal, if any, changes with increasing redshift when compared to local calibrations. Based on the line ratios $ N ii /H N ii O ii $, and $ N ii S ii $, we further propose novel redshift-invariant tracers for the black hole accretion rate-to-star formation rate ratio. Lastly, we find that commonly used metallicity estimators display gradual shifts in normalisations with increasing redshift, while maintaining the overall shape of local calibrations. This is in tentative agreement with recent JWST data.

MUSE view of PDS 456: Kiloparsec-scale wind, extended ionized gas, and close environment

PDS 456 is the most luminous (Lbol ∼ 1047 erg s−1) radio-quiet quasar at z &lt; 0.3 and can be regarded as a local counterpart of the powerful quasars shining at Cosmic Noon. It hosts a strong nuclear X-ray ultra-fast (∼0.3c) outflow, and a massive and clumpy CO (3–2) molecular outflow extending up to ∼5 kpc from the nucleus. We analyzed the first MUSE Wide Field Mode (WFM) and Adaptive-Optics Narrow Field Mode (AO-NFM) optical integral field spectroscopic observations of PDS456. The AO-NFM observations provide an unprecedented spatial resolution, reaching up to ∼280 pc. Our findings reveal a complex circumgalactic medium around PDS 456, extending to a maximum projected size of ≈46 kpc. This includes a reservoir of gas with a mass of ∼107 − 108 M⊙, along with eight companion galaxies and a multi-phase outflow. WFM and NFM MUSE data reveal an outflow on a large scale (≈12 kpc from the quasar) in [O III], and on smaller scales (within 3 kpc) with higher resolution (about 280 pc) in Hα, respectively. The [O III] outflow mass rate is 2.3 ± 0.2 M⊙ yr−1 which is significantly lower than those typically found in other luminous quasars. Remarkably, the Hα outflow shows a similar scale, morphology, and kinematics to the CO (3–2) molecular outflow, with the latter dominating in terms of kinetic energy and mass outflow rate by two and one orders of magnitude, respectively. Our results therefore indicate that mergers, powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, and feedback through AGN-driven winds collectively contribute to shaping the host galaxy evolution of PDS 456, and likely that of similar objects at the brightest end of the AGN luminosity function across all redshifts. Moreover, the finding that the momentum boost of the total outflow deviates from the expected energy-conserving expansion for large-scale outflows highlights the need of novel AGN-driven outflow models to comprehensively interpret these phenomena.

A Census of Photometrically Selected Little Red Dots at 4 < z < 9 in JWST Blank Fields

Observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have uncovered numerous faint active galactic nuclei (AGN) at z ∼ 5 and beyond. These objects are key to our understanding of the formation of supermassive black holes (SMBHs), their coevolution with host galaxies, as well as the role of AGN in cosmic reionization. Using photometric colors and size measurements, we perform a search for compact red objects in an array of blank deep JWST/NIRCam fields totaling ∼640 arcmin2. Our careful selection yields 260 reddened AGN candidates at 4 < z phot < 9, dominated by a point-source-like central component (〈r eff〉 < 130 pc) and displaying a dichotomy in their rest-frame colors (blue UV and red optical slopes). Quasar model fitting reveals our objects to be moderately dust-extincted (A V ∼ 1.6), which is reflected in their inferred bolometric luminosities of L bol = 1044–47 erg s−1 and fainter UV magnitudes M UV ≃ −17 to −22. Thanks to the large areas explored, we extend the existing dusty AGN luminosity functions to both fainter and brighter magnitudes, estimating their number densities to be ×100 higher than for UV-selected quasars of similar magnitudes. At the same time, they constitute only a small fraction of all UV-selected galaxies at similar redshifts, but this percentage rises to ∼10% for M UV ∼ − 22 at z ∼ 7. Finally, assuming a conservative case of accretion at the Eddington rate, we place a lower limit on the SMBH mass function at z ∼ 5, finding it to be consistent with both theory and previous JWST observations.

A comparative analysis of the active galactic nucleus and star formation characteristics of broad- and narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

We report here our comparative analysis of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) and star formation (SF) characteristics of a sample of narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) and broad-line Seyfert 1 (BLS1) galaxies. Our sample consisted of 373 BLS1 and 240 NLS1 galaxies and spanned the redshift 0.02 $&lt;$ $z$ $&lt;$ 0.8. The broad-band spectral energy distribution, constructed using data from the ultra-violet to the far-infrared, was modelled using CIGALE to derive the basic properties of our sample. We searched for differences in stellar mass (M$_ ast $), star formation rate (SFR), and AGN luminosity (L$_ AGN $) in the two populations. We also estimated new radiation-pressure-corrected black hole masses for our sample of BLS1 and NLS1 galaxies. While the virial black hole mass (M$_ BH $) of BLS1 galaxies is similar to their radiation-pressure-corrected M$_ BH $ values, the virial M$_ BH $ values of NLS1 galaxies are underestimated. We found that NLS1 galaxies have a lower M$_ BH $ of log (M$_ BH M$_ odot ) = 7.45 pm 0.27 and a higher Eddington ratio of log ($ Edd $) = $-$0.72 pm 0.22 than BLS1 galaxies, which have log (M$_ BH M$_ odot ) and $ Edd $ values of 8.04 pm 0.26 and $-$1.08 pm 0.24, respectively. The distributions of M$_ ast $, SFR, and specific star formation (sSFR = SFR/M$_ ast $) for the two populations are indistinguishable. This analysis is based on an independent approach and contradicts reports in the literature that NLS1 galaxies have a higher SF than BLS1 galaxies. While we found that L$_ AGN $ increases with M$_ ast $, L$_ SF $ flattens at high M$_ ast $ for both BLS1 and NLS1 galaxies. The reason may be that SF is suppressed by AGN feedback at M$_ ast $ higher than sim 1011 M$_ odot $ or that the AGN fuelling mechanism is decoupled from SF. Separating the sample into radio-detected and radio-undetected subsamples, we found no difference in their SF properties suggesting that the effect of AGN jets on SF is negligible.

Observational constraints on the stellar recycled gas in active galactic nuclei feeding

ABSTRACT Near-infrared long-slit spectroscopy has been used to study the stellar population (SP) of the low luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and matched analogues (LLAMA) sample. To perform the SP fits we have employed the X-shooter simple stellar population models together with the starlight code. Our main conclusions are: The star formation history of the AGNs is very complex, presenting many episodes of star formation during their lifetimes. In general, AGN hosts have higher fractions of intermediate-age SP (light-weighted mean ages, &amp;lt;t &amp;gt; L ≲ 4.5 Gyr) when compared with their analogues (&amp;lt;t &amp;gt; L ≲ 8.0 Gyr). AGNs are more affected by reddening and require significant fractions of featureless continuum and hot dust components. The ratio between the AGN radiated energy and the gravitational potential energy of the molecular gas (ERad/EPG) for the AGN is compared with the &amp;lt;t &amp;gt; L and a possible anticorrelation is observed. This suggests that the AGN is affecting the star formation in these galaxies, in the sense that more energetic AGN [log(ERad/EPG) ≳ 3] tend to host nuclear younger SP (&amp;lt;t &amp;gt; L ≲4 Gyr). We found that the recent (t &amp;lt;2 Gyr) returned (recycled) stellar mass is higher in AGN than in the controls. We also provide evidence that the mass-loss of stars would be enough to feed the AGN, thus providing observational constraints for models that predict that AGN feeding is partially due to the recycled gas from dying stars.

The X-ray variability of active galactic nuclei: Power spectrum and variance analysis of the Swift/BAT light curves

Aims. We study the X-ray power spectrum of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in order to investigate whether Seyfert I and II power spectra are similar or not and whether AGN variability depends on the mass and accretion rate of black holes as well as to compare the power spectra of AGN with the power spectra of Galactic X-ray black hole binaries. Method. We used 14–195 keV band light curves from the 157-month Swift/BAT hard X-ray survey, and we computed the mean power spectrum and excess variance of AGN in narrow black hole mass and AGN luminosity bins. We fitted a power-law model to the AGN power spectra, and we investigated whether the power spectrum parameters and the excess variance depend on the black hole mass, luminosity, and accretion rate of AGN. Results. We found the Seyfert I and Seyfert II power spectra to be identical, in agreement with AGN unification models. The mean AGN X-ray power spectrum has the same power-law like shape, with a slope of −1 in all AGN irrespective of their luminosity and black hole mass. We did not detect any flattening to a slope of zero at frequencies as low as 10−9 Hz. We detected an anti-correlation between the power spectral density function (PSD) amplitude and the accretion rate, similar to what has been seen in the past in the 2–10 keV band. This implies that the variability amplitude in AGN decreases with an increasing accretion rate. The universal AGN power spectrum is consistent with the mean 2–9 keV band Cyg X-1 power spectrum in its soft state. We detected a small difference in amplitude, but this is probably due to the difference in energy. Conclusions. The mean low-frequency AGN X-ray power spectrum is consistent with the extension of the mean 0.01–25 Hz Cyg X-1 power spectrum in its soft state to lower frequencies. We cannot prove that the mean AGN PSD is analogous to the mean Cyg X-1 PSD in its soft state, as we do not know the location of the high-frequency break in the hard X-ray AGN PSDs. However, if this is the case, then the accretion disc in AGN probably extends to the radius of the innermost circular stable orbit (as is probably the case with the black hole binaries in their soft state). The X-ray corona will then be located on top, illuminating the disc and producing the X-ray reflection and disc reverberation phenomena commonly observed in these objects. Furthermore, the agreement between the PSD amplitude in AGN and the Cyg X-1 (either in the soft or the hard state) over many decades in frequency indicates that the X-ray variability process is probably the same in all accreting objects, irrespective of the mass of the compact object. We plan to investigate this issue further in the near future.

The effect of thermal torques on AGN disc migration traps and gravitational wave populations

ABSTRACT Accretion discs in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) foster black hole (BH) formation, growth, and mergers. Stellar mass BHs migrate inwards under the influence of hydrodynamical torques unless they encounter a region where the torque flips sign. At these migration traps, BHs accumulate and merge via dynamical or gas-assisted interactions, producing high-frequency LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA (LVK) gravitational wave (GW) sources and potentially cutting off the supply of extreme mass ratio inspirals that would otherwise make low-frequency, LISA-band GWs. In this paper, we study the interplay between different types of migration torques, focusing especially on the ‘thermal torques’ generated by the thermal response of the AGN to embedded stellar-mass BHs that accrete through their own mini-discs. In contrast to previous work, we find that Type I torques cannot produce migration traps on their own, but thermal torques often do, particularly in low-mass AGN. The migration traps produced by thermal torques exist at much larger distances (∼103−5 gravitational radii) than do previously identified Type I traps, carrying implications for GW populations at multiple frequencies. Finally, we identify a bifurcation of AGN discs into two regimes: migration traps exist below a critical AGN luminosity, and do not at higher luminosities. This critical luminosity is fit as $\log _{10} L_{\rm AGN}^c = 45 {\!-\!} 0.32 \log _{10}{(\alpha /0.01)}$ where α is the Shakura–Sunyaev viscosity parameter, a range compatible with recent claims that LVK GWs are not preferentially associated with high-luminosity AGN.

The extent and power of ‘maintenance mode’ feedback in MaNGA AGN

ABSTRACT We study the ionized gas kinematics of 293 Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) hosts as compared to that of 485 control galaxies from the MaNGA–SDSS survey using measurements of the [O iii]$\lambda$5007 Å emission-line profiles, presenting flux, velocity, and W$_{80}$ maps. In 45 per cent of the AGN, a broad component was needed to fit the line profiles wings within the inner few kpc, that we have identified with an outflow. But in most AGN, the profiles are broader than that of their controls over a much more extended region, identified as the ‘kinematically disturbed regions’ (KDRs). We find a positive correlation between the mean $\langle$W$_{80}\rangle$ and L[O iii], supporting that the KDR is due to heating and turbulence of the ISM by outflows and radiation from the AGN. The extent R$_{KDR}$ reaches up to 24 kpc, with a mean ratio to that of the ENLR of 57 per cent. We estimate ionized gas mass flow rates ($\dot{M}_{\rm out}$) and kinetic powers ($\dot{E}_{\rm out}$) both from the AGN broad components and from the W$_{80}$ values, that can be obtained for the whole AGN sample. We find values for $\dot{M}_{\rm out}$ and $\dot{E}_{\rm out}$ that correlate with the AGN luminosity $L_{\mathrm{ bol}}$, populating the low-luminosity end of these known correlations. The mean coupling efficiency between $\dot{E}_{\rm out}$ and AGN luminosity is $\approx$0.02 per cent from the W$_{80}$ values and lower from the broad component. But the large extent of the KDR shows that even low-luminosity AGN can impact the host galaxy along several kpc in a “maintenance mode” feedback.