Hot Dust-obscured Galaxies Research Articles

CO spectra of the ISM in the Host Galaxies of the most luminous WISE-selected AGNs

Abstract We present observations of mid-J (J = 4–3 or J = 5–4) carbon monoxide (CO) emission lines and continuum emission from a sample of ten of the most luminous (Lbol ≥ 1014 L$\rm \odot$) Hot Dust-Obscured Galaxies (Hot DOGs) discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) with redshifts up to 4.6. We uncover broad spectral lines (FWHM ≥ 400 km s−1) in these objects, suggesting a turbulent molecular interstellar medium (ISM) may be ubiquitous in Hot DOGs. A halo of molecular gas, extending out to a radius of 5 kpc is observed in W2305–0039, likely supplied by 940 km s−1 molecular outflows. W0831+0140 is plausibly the host of a merger between at least two galaxies, consistent with observations made using ionized gas. These CO(4–3) observations contrast with previous CO(1–0) studies of the same sources: the CO(4–3) to CO(1–0) luminosity ratios exceed 300 in each source, suggesting that the lowest excited states of CO are underluminous. These findings show that the molecular gas in Hot DOGs is consistently turbulent, plausibly a consequence of AGN feedback, triggered by galactic mergers.

Lyα Imaging around the Hyperluminous Dust-obscured Quasar W2246–0526 at z = 4.6

Hot dust-obscured galaxies (hot DOGs) are a population of hyperluminous, heavily obscured quasars discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer all-sky survey at high redshift. Observations suggested the growth of these galaxies may be driven by mergers. Previous environmental studies have statistically shown hot DOGs may reside in dense regions. Here we use the Very Large Telescope narrowband and broadband imaging to search for Lyα emitters (LAEs) in the 6.′8×6.′8 field of the hot DOG W2246−0526 at z = 4.6. W2246−0526 is the most distant hot DOG. We find that there is an overdensity of LAEs in the W2246−0526 field compared with the blank fields. This is direct evidence that this most distant hot DOG is in an overdense environment on the Mpc scale, and the result relates to the merger origin of hot DOGs.

Black Hole Mass and Eddington Ratio Distribution of Hot Dust-obscured Galaxies

Hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs) are a rare population of hyperluminous infrared galaxies discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission. Despite the significant obscuration of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) by dust in these systems, pronounced broad and blueshifted emission lines are often observed. Previous work has shown that eight Hot DOGs, referred to as blue-excess Hot DOGs (BHDs), present a blue excess consistent with type 1 quasar emission in their UV–optical spectral energy distributions (SEDs), which has been shown to originate from the light of the obscured central engine scattered into the line of sight. We present an analysis of the rest-frame optical emission characteristics for 172 Hot DOGs through UV–mid-IR SED modeling and spectroscopic details, with a particular focus on the identification of BHDs. We find that while the optical emission observed in Hot DOGs is in most cases dominated by a young stellar population, 26% of Hot DOGs show a significant enough blue excess emission to be classified as BHDs. Based on their broad C iv and Mg ii lines, we find that the mass of the black hole M BH in a BHD ranges from 108.7 to 1010 M ⊙. When using the same emission lines in regular Hot DOGs, we find the M BH estimates cover the entire range found for BHDs while also extending to somewhat lower values. This agreement may imply that the broad lines in regular Hot DOGs also originate from scattered light from the central engine, just as in BHDs, although a more detailed study would be needed to rule out an outflow-driven nature. Similar to z ∼ 6 quasars, we find that Hot DOGs sit above the local relation between stellar and black hole masses, suggesting either that AGN feedback has not yet significantly suppressed the stellar mass growth in the host galaxies or that they will be outliers of the relation when reaching z = 0.

Background Contamination of the Project Hephaistos Dyson Spheres Candidates

Project Hephaistos recently identified seven M-dwarfs as possible Dyson Spheres (DS) candidates. We have cross-matched three of these candidates (A, B and G) with radio sources detected in various all-sky surveys. The radio sources are offset from the Gaia stellar positions by ∼4.9, ∼0.4 and ∼5.″0 for candidates A, B, and G respectively. We propose that Dust obscured galaxies (DOGs) lying close to the line-of-sight of these M-dwarf stars significantly contribute to the measured WISE mid-IR flux densities in the WISE W3 and W4 wave bands. These three stars have therefore been misidentified as DS candidates. We also note that with an areal sky density of 9 × 10−6 per square arcsecond, Hot DOGs can probably account for the contamination of all 7 DS candidates drawn from an original sample of 5 million stars.

X-ray spectral properties of dust-obscured galaxies in the XMM-SERVS coverage of the XMM-LSS field

ABSTRACT With an aim to unveil the population of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) hosted in high-z dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs), we performed X-ray spectral study of 34 DOGs (0.59 ≤ z ≤ 4.65) lying within 5.3 square degrees of the XMM-Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (XMM-SERVS) coverage in the XMM-Large Scale Structure (XMM-LSS) field. To improve the spectral quality of individual sources, we combined all the existing XMM−Newton data and also included Chandra/Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) data, whenever available. We find that the X-ray spectra of our DOGs can be fitted with a simple absorbed power law or with a physically motivated borus02 model. The line-of-sight column densities (NH) in our sources span across a wide range (1.02 × 1022 cm−2 ≤ NH ≤ 1.21 × 1024 cm−2), with a substantial fraction (∼17.6 per cent) of them being heavily obscured (NH ≥ 1023 cm−2). We also identified one new Compton-thick (CT)-AGN candidate, yielding the CT-AGN fraction in our sample to be only 3 per cent. The absorption-corrected 2.0–10 keV X-ray luminosities of our sources (2.00 × 1043 erg s−1 ≤ $L_{\rm 2-10~keV}^{\rm int}$ ≤ 6.17 × 1045 erg s−1) suggest them to be luminous quasars. The NH versus Eddington ratio diagnostic plot infers that our sample consists of a heterogeneous population that includes a small fraction (∼12 per cent) of DOGs belonging to an early phase (Hot DOGs) during which accretion and obscuration peaks, while the remaining DOGs belong to an intermediate or late phase during which radiative feedback from the dominant AGN blows away surrounding obscuring material.

A benchmark for extreme conditions of the multiphase interstellar medium in the most luminous hot dust-obscured galaxy at z = 4.6

WISE J224607.6–052634.9 (W2246–0526) is a hot dust-obscured galaxy at z = 4.601, and the most luminous obscured quasar known to date. W2246–0526 harbors a heavily obscured supermassive black hole that is most likely accreting above the Eddington limit. We present observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in seven bands, including band 10, of the brightest far-infrared (FIR) fine-structure emission lines of this galaxy: [OI]63 μm, [OIII]88 μm, [NII]122 μm, [OI]145 μm, [CII]158 μm, [NII]205 μm, [CI]370 μm, and [CI]609 μm. A comparison of the data to a large grid of CLOUDY radiative transfer models reveals that a high hydrogen density (nH ∼ 3 × 103 cm−3) and extinction (AV ∼ 300 mag), together with extreme ionization (log(U) = − 0.5) and a high X-ray to UV ratio (αox ≥ −0.8) are required to reproduce the observed nuclear line ratios. The values of αox and U are among the largest found in the literature and imply the existence of an X-ray-dominated region (XDR). In fact, this component explains the a priori very surprising non-detection of the [OIII]88 μm emission line, which is actually suppressed, instead of boosted, in XDR environments. Interestingly, the best-fitted model implies higher X-ray emission and lower CO content than what is detected observationally, suggesting the presence of a molecular gas component that should be further obscuring the X-ray emission over larger spatial scales than the central region that is being modeled. These results highlight the need for multiline infrared observations to characterize the multiphase gas in high redshift quasars and, in particular, W2246–0526 serves as an extreme benchmark for comparisons of interstellar medium conditions with other quasar populations at cosmic noon and beyond.

Discovery of a Low-redshift Hot Dust-obscured Galaxy

We report the discovery of the hyperluminous, highly obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) WISE J190445.04+485308.9 (W1904+4853, hereafter, L bol ∼ 1.1 × 1013 L ⊙) at z = 0.415. Its well-sampled spectral energy distribution (SED) is dominated by infrared dust emission, though broad emission lines are detected in the optical spectra. These features suggest that W1904+4853 contains an actively accreting supermassive black hole hidden in its dusty cocoon, resembling the observed properties of hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs), a population previously only identified at z > 1.0. Using the broad component of the Mg ii 2798 Å emission line, we estimate a black hole mass of . The corresponding Eddington ratio (η) of implies that the central black hole accretion is at the theoretical limit of isotropic accretion. The rest-frame UV-optical SED also indicates that the host galaxy of W1904+4853 harbors strong star formation activity at the rate of 6–84 M ⊙ yr−1 with an independent estimate of star formation rate up to ∼45 M ⊙ yr−1 using the [O ii] emission line. With an estimated stellar mass of 3 × 1010 M ⊙, the host galaxy appears to be a starburst system with respect to the main sequence of the star-forming galaxies at the same redshift. Although blueshifted and asymmetric [O iii] emission provides evidence of an outflow, we estimate it to be an order of magnitude smaller than the star formation rate, indicating that the current obscured AGN activity at the center has not yet produced significant feedback on the host galaxy star formation activity. W1904+4853 supports the interpretation that Hot DOGs are a rare transitional phase of AGN accretion in galaxy evolution, a phase that can persist into the present-day Universe.

An overdensity of Lyman break galaxies around the hot dust-obscured galaxy WISE J224607.56−052634.9

We report the identification of Lyman break galaxy (LBG) candidates around the most luminous hot dust-Obscured galaxy (Hot DOG) known, WISE J224607.56−052634.9 (W2246−0526) at z = 4.601, using deep r-, i-, and z-band imaging from the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph South (GMOS-S). We used the surface density of LBGs to probe the megaparsec-scale environment of W2246−0526 to characterize its richness and evolutionary state. We identified LBG candidates in the vicinity of W2246−0526 using the selection criteria developed in the Subaru Deep Field and in the Subaru XMM-Newton Deep Field, slightly modified to account for the difference between the filters used, and we find 37 and 55 LBG candidates, respectively. Matching to the z-band depths of those studies, this corresponds to δ = 5.8−1.9+2.4 times the surface density of LBGs expected in the field. Interestingly, the Hot DOG itself, as well as a confirmed neighbor, do not satisfy either LBG selection criteria, suggesting we may be missing a large number of companion galaxies. Our analysis shows that we have mostly likely only found those with a higher than average intergalactic medium (IGM) optical depth or moderately high dust obscuration. The number density of LBG candidates is not concentrated around W2246−0526, suggesting an early evolutionary stage for the proto-cluster, that the Hot DOG may not be the most massive galaxy, or that the Hot DOG may be affecting the IGM transparency in its vicinity. The overdensity around W2246−0526 is comparable to overdensities found around other Hot DOGs and is somewhat higher than what is typically found for radio galaxies and luminous quasars at a similar redshift.

CEERS Key Paper. VI. JWST/MIRI Uncovers a Large Population of Obscured AGN at High Redshifts

Mid-infrared (mid-IR) observations are powerful in identifying heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) that have weak emission in other wavelengths. Data from the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on board the James Webb Space Telescope provides an excellent opportunity to perform such studies. We take advantage of the MIRI imaging data from the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey to investigate the AGN population in the distant universe. We estimate the source properties of MIRI-selected objects by utilizing spectral energy distribution (SED) modeling, and classify them into star-forming galaxies (SFs), SF-AGN mixed objects, and AGN. The source numbers of these types are 433, 102, and 25, respectively, from four MIRI pointings covering ∼9 arcmin2. The sample spans a redshift range of ≈0–5. We derive the median SEDs for all three source types, respectively, and publicly release them. The median MIRI SED of AGN is similar to the typical SEDs of hot dust-obscured galaxies and Seyfert 2s, for which the mid-IR SEDs are dominated by emission from AGN-heated hot dust. Based on our SED-fit results, we estimate the black hole accretion density (BHAD; i.e., total BH growth rate per comoving volume) as a function of redshift. At z < 3, the resulting BHAD agrees with the X-ray measurements in general. At z > 3, we identify a total of 27 AGN and SF-AGN mixed objects, leading to that our high-z BHAD is substantially higher than the X-ray results (∼0.5 dex at z ≈ 3–5). This difference indicates MIRI can identify a large population of heavily obscured AGN missed by X-ray surveys at high redshifts.

Detection of companion galaxies around hot dust-obscured hyper-luminous galaxy W0410-0913

The phase transition between galaxies and quasars is often identified with the rare population of hyper-luminous, hot dust-obscured galaxies. Galaxy formation models predict these systems to grow via mergers, that can deliver large amounts of gas toward their centers, induce intense bursts of star formation and feed their supermassive black holes. Here we report the detection of 24 galaxies emitting Lyman-α emission on projected physical scales of about 400 kpc around the hyper-luminous hot dust-obscured galaxy W0410-0913, at redshift z = 3.631, using Very Large Telescope observations. While this indicates that W0410-0913 evolves in a very dense environment, we do not find clear signs of mergers that could sustain its growth. Data suggest that if mergers occurred, as models expect, these would involve less massive satellites, with only a moderate impact on the internal interstellar medium of W0410-0913, which is sustained by a rotationally-supported fast-rotating molecular disk, as Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations suggest.

An Overdensity of Red Galaxies around the Hyperluminous Dust-obscured Quasar W1835+4355 at z = 2.3

Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer all-sky survey has discovered a new population of hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs), which have been confirmed to be dusty quasars. Previous statistical studies have found significant overdensities of submillimeter and mid-IR-selected galaxies around Hot DOGs, indicating they may reside in dense regions. Here we present the near-infrared (J and K s bands) observations over a field centered on a Hot DOG W1835+4355 at z ∼ 2.3 using the wide-field infrared camera on the Palomar 200 inch telescope. We use the color criterion J − K s > 2.3 for objects with , to select distant red galaxies (DRGs). We find a significant excess of number density of DRGs in the W1835+4355 field compared to three control fields, by a factor of about two. The overdensity of red galaxies around W1835+4355 is consistent with the multiwavelength environment of Hot DOGs, suggesting that Hot DOGs may be a good tracer for dense regions at high redshift. We find that W1835+4355 does not reside in the densest region of the dense environment traced by itself. A possible scenario is that W1835+4355 is undergoing a merging process, which lowers the local number density of galaxies in its surrounding region.

Imaging Polarization of the Blue-excess Hot Dust-obscured Galaxy WISE J011601.41–050504.0

We report on VLT/FORS2 imaging polarimetry observations in the R Special band of WISE J011601.41–050504.0 (W0116–0505), a heavily obscured hyperluminous quasar at z = 3.173 classified as a Hot Dust-obscured Galaxy (Hot DOG) based on its mid-IR colors. Recently, Assef et al. identified W0116–0505 as having excess rest-frame optical/UV emission and concluded that this excess emission is most likely scattered light from the heavily obscured AGN. We find that the broadband rest-frame UV flux is strongly linearly polarized (10.8% ± 1.9%, with a polarization angle of 74° ± 9°), confirming this conclusion. We analyze these observations in the context of a simple model based on scattering either by free electrons or by optically thin dust, assuming a classical dust torus with polar openings. Both can replicate the degree of polarization and the luminosity of the scattered component for a range of geometries and column densities, but we argue that optically thin dust in the ISM is the more likely scenario. We also explore the possibility that the scattering medium corresponds to an outflow recently identified for W0116–0505. This is a feasible option if the outflow component is biconical with most of the scattering occurring at the base of the receding outflow. In this scenario, the quasar would still be obscured even if viewed face-on but might appear as a reddened type 1 quasar once the outflow has expanded. We discuss a possible connection between blue-excess Hot DOGs, extremely red quasars, reddened type 1 quasars, and unreddened quasars that depends on a combination of evolution and viewing geometry.

Detection of H2O and OH+ in z &gt; 3 hot dust-obscured galaxies

Aims. In this paper we present the detection of H2O and OH+ emission in z &gt; 3 hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs). Methods. Using ALMA Band-6 observations of two Hot DOGs, we detected H2O(202 − 111) in W0149+2350, and H2O(312 − 303) and the multiplet OH+(11 − 01) in W0410−0913. These detections were serendipitous, falling within the side-bands of Band-6 observations aimed to study CO(9−8) in these Hot DOGs. Results. We find that both sources have luminous H2O emission with line luminosities of LH2O(202 − 111) &gt; 2.2 × 108 L⊙ and LH2O(312 − 303) = 8.7 × 108 L⊙ for W0149+2350 and W0410−0913, respectively. The H2O line profiles are similar to those seen for the neighbouring CO(9–8) line, with line widths of full width at half maximum (FWHM) ∼800−1000 km s−1. However, the H2O emission seems to be more compact than the CO(9−8). OH+(11 − 01) is detected in emission for W0410−0913, with a FWHM = 1000 km s−1 and a line luminosity of LOH+(11 − 01) = 6.92 × 108 L⊙. The ratio of the observed H2O line luminosity over the IR luminosity, for both Hot DOGs, is consistent with previously observed star-forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN). The H2O/CO line ratio of both Hot DOGs and the OH+/H2O line ratio of W0410−0913 are comparable to those of luminous AGN found in the literature. Conclusions. The bright H2O(202 − 111), and H2O(312 − 303) emission lines are likely due to the combined high star formation levels and luminous AGN in these sources. The presence of OH+ in emission, and the agreement of the observed line ratios of the Hot DOGs with luminous AGN in the literature, would suggest that the AGN emission is dominating the radiative output of these galaxies. However, follow-up multi-transition observations are needed to better constrain the properties of these systems.

Fast Outflows in Hot Dust-obscured Galaxies Detected with Keck/NIRES

Abstract We present rest-frame optical spectroscopic observations of 24 Hot Dust-Obscured Galaxies (Hot DOGs) at redshifts 1.7–4.6 with KECK/NIRES. Our targets are selected, based on their extreme red colors, to be the highest-luminosity sources from the WISE infrared survey. In 20 sources with well-detected emission, we fit the key [O iii], Hβ, Hα, [N ii], and [S ii] diagnostic lines to constrain physical conditions. Of the 17 targets with a clear detection of the [O iii]λ5007 Å emission line, 15 display broad blueshifted and asymmetric line profiles, with widths ranging from 1000 to 8000 km s−1 and blueshifts up to 3000 km s−1. These kinematics provide strong evidence for the presence of massive ionized outflows of up to , with a median of . As many as eight sources show optical emission line ratios consistent with vigorous star formation. Balmer-line star formation rates, uncorrected for reddening, range from 30 to 1300 , with a median of . Estimates of the SFR from Spectral Energy Distribution fitting of mid- and far-infrared photometry suggest significantly higher values. We estimate the central black hole masses to be of order , assuming the present-day relation. The bolometric luminosities and the estimated masses of the central black holes of these galaxies suggest that many of the active galactic nucleus-dominated Hot DOGs are accreting at or above their Eddington limit. The combination of ongoing star formation, massive outflows, and high Eddington ratios suggest Hot DOGs are a transitional phase in galaxy evolution.

Hot Dust-obscured Galaxies with Excess Blue Light

Abstract Hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs) are among the most luminous galaxies in the universe. Powered by highly obscured, possibly Compton-thick, active galactic nuclei (AGNs), Hot DOGs are characterized by spectral energy distributions that are very red in the mid-infrared yet dominated by the host galaxy stellar emission in the UV and optical. An earlier study identified a subsample of Hot DOGs with significantly enhanced UV emission. One target, W0204–0506, was studied in detail and, based on Chandra observations, it was concluded that the enhanced emission was most likely due to either extreme unobscured star formation (star formation rate &gt; 1000 M ⊙ yr−1) or to light from the highly obscured AGN scattered by gas or dust into our line of sight. Here, we present a follow-up study of W0204–0506 as well as two more Hot DOGs with excess UV emission. For the two new objects we obtained Chandra/ACIS-S observations, and for all three targets we obtained Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 F555W and F160W imaging. The analysis of these observations, combined with multiwavelength photometry and UV/optical spectroscopy suggests that UV emission is most likely dominated by light from the central highly obscured, hyperluminous AGN that has been scattered into our line of sight, by either gas or dust. We cannot decisively rule out, however, that star formation or a second AGN in the system may significantly contribute to the UV excess of these targets.

Spectral Classification and Ionized Gas Outflows in z ∼ 2 WISE-selected Hot Dust-obscured Galaxies

Abstract We present Very Large Telescope/XSHOOTER rest-frame UV–optical spectra of 10 hot dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs) at z ∼ 2 to investigate active galactic nucleus (AGN) diagnostics and assess the presence and effect of ionized gas outflows. Most Hot DOGs in this sample are narrow-line-dominated AGNs (type 1.8 or higher) and have higher Balmer decrements than typical type 2 quasars. Almost all (8/9) sources show evidence for ionized gas outflows in the form of broad and blueshifted [O iii] profiles, and some sources have such profiles in Hα (5/7) or [O ii] (3/6). Combined with the literature, these results support additional sources of obscuration beyond the simple torus invoked by AGN unification models. Outflow rates derived from the broad [O iii] line (≳103 M ⊙ yr−1) are greater than the black hole accretion and star formation rates, with feedback efficiencies (∼0.1%–1%) consistent with negative feedback to the host galaxy’s star formation in merger-driven quasar activity scenarios. We find that the broad emission lines in luminous, obscured quasars are often better explained by outflows within the narrow-line region and caution that black hole mass estimates for such sources in the literature may have substantial uncertainty. Regardless, we find lower bounds on the Eddington ratio for Hot DOGs near unity.

Optical Properties of Infrared-bright Dust-obscured Galaxies Viewed with Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam

Abstract We report on the optical properties of infrared (IR)-bright dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs) that are defined as . Because supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in IR-bright DOGs are expected to be rapidly growing in the major-merger scenario, they provide useful clues for understanding the coevolution of SMBHs and their host galaxies. However, the optical properties of IR-bright DOGs remain unclear because the optical emission of a DOG is very faint. By combining ∼105 deg2 images of the optical, near-IR, and mid-IR data obtained from the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey, the VISTA VIKING survey, and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer all-sky survey, respectively, 571 IR-bright DOGs were selected. We found that IR-bright DOGs show a redder (g − z)AB color than do other populations of dusty galaxies, such as ultraluminous IR galaxies (ULIRGs) at a similar redshift, with a significantly large dispersion. Among the selected DOGs, star formation (SF)-dominated DOGs show a relatively red color, while active galactic nucleus (AGN)-dominated DOGs show a rather blue color in optical. This result is consistent with the idea that the relative AGN contribution in the optical emission becomes more significant at a later stage in the major-merger scenario. We discovered eight IR-bright DOGs showing a significant blue excess in blue HSC bands. This blue excess can be interpreted as a leaked AGN emission that is either a directly leaking or a scattered AGN emission, as proposed for some blue-excess Hot DOGs in earlier studies.

Polar Dust, Nuclear Obscuration, and IR SED Diversity in Type-1 AGNs*

Abstract Despite the hypothesized similar face-on viewing angles, the infrared emission of type-1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) has diverse spectral energy distribution (SED) shapes that deviate substantially from the well-characterized quasar templates. Motivated by the commonly seen UV-optical obscuration and the discovery of parsec-scale mid-IR polar dust emission in some nearby AGNs, we develop semi-empirical SED libraries for reddened type-1 AGNs built on quasar intrinsic templates, assuming low-level extinction caused by an extended distribution of large dust grains. We demonstrate that this model can reproduce the nuclear UV to IR SED and the strong mid-IR polar dust emission of NGC 3783, the type-1 AGN with the most relevant and robust observational constraints. In addition, we compile 64 low-z Seyfert-1 nuclei with negligible mid-IR star formation contamination and satisfactorily fit the individual IR SEDs as well as the composite UV to mid-IR composite SEDs. Given the success of these fits, we characterize the possible infrared SED of AGN polar dust emission and utilize a simple but effective strategy to infer its prevalence among type-1 AGNs. The SEDs of high-z peculiar AGNs, including the extremely red quasars, mid-IR warm-excess AGNs, and hot dust-obscured galaxies, can be also reproduced by our model. These results indicate that the IR SEDs of most AGNs, regardless of redshift or luminosity, arise from similar circumnuclear torus properties but differ mainly due to the optical depths of extended obscuring dust components.

The hyperluminous Compton-thick z ∼ 2 quasar nucleus of the hot DOG W1835+4355 observed by NuSTAR

We present a 155 ks NuSTAR observation of the z ∼ 2 hot dust-obscured galaxy (hot DOG) W1835+4355. We extracted spectra from the two NuSTAR detectors and analyzed them jointly with the archival XMM-Newton PN and MOS spectra. We performed a spectroscopic analysis based on both phenomenological and physically motivated models employing toroidal and spherical geometry for the obscurer. In all the modelings, the source exhibits a Compton-thick column density NH ≳ 1024 cm−2, a 2–10 keV luminosity L2−10 ≈ 2 × 1045 erg s−1, and a prominent soft excess (∼5–10% of the primary radiative output), which translates into a luminosity ∼1044 erg s−1. We modeled the spectral energy distribution from 1.6 to 850 μm using a clumpy two-phase dusty torus model plus a modified blackbody to account for emission powered by star formation in the far-infrared. We employed several geometrical configurations consistent with those applied in the X-ray analysis. In all cases we obtained a bolometric luminosity Lbol ≈ 3–5 × 1047 erg s−1, which confirms the hyperluminous nature of this active galactic nucleus. Finally, we estimate a prodigious star formation rate of ∼3000 M⊙ yr−1, which is consistent with the rates inferred for z ≈ 2–4 hyperluminous type I quasars. The heavily obscured nature, together with Lbol, the ratio of X-ray to mid-infrared luminosity, the rest-frame optical morphology, and the host star formation rate are indicative of its evolutionary stage. We can interpret this as a late-stage merger event in the transitional, dust-enshrouded, evolutionary phase eventually leading to an optically bright AGN.

Heavy X-ray obscuration in the most luminous galaxies discovered by WISE

Hot Dust-Obscured Galaxies (Hot DOGs) are hyperluminous ($L_{\mathrm{8-1000\,\mu m}}>10^{13}\,\mathrm{L_\odot}$) infrared galaxies with extremely high (up to hundreds of K) dust temperatures. The sources powering both their extremely high luminosities and dust temperatures are thought to be deeply buried and rapidly accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Hot DOGs could therefore represent a key evolutionary phase in which the SMBH growth peaks. X-ray observations can be used to study their obscuration levels and luminosities. In this work, we present the X-ray properties of the 20 most-luminous ($L_{\mathrm{bol}}\gtrsim10^{14}\, L_\odot$) known Hot DOGs at $z=2-4.6$. Five of them are covered by long-exposure ($10-70$ ks) Chandra and XMM-Newton observations, with three being X-ray detected, and we study their individual properties. One of these sources (W0116$-$0505) is a Compton-thick candidate, with column density $N_H=(1.0-1.5)\times10^{24}\,\mathrm{cm^{-2}}$ derived from X-ray spectral fitting. The remaining 15 Hot DOGs have been targeted by a Chandra snapshot (3.1 ks) survey. None of these 15 is individually detected; therefore we applied a stacking analysis to investigate their average emission. From hardness-ratio analysis, we constrained the average obscuring column density and intrinsic luminosity to be log$N_H\,\mathrm{[cm^{-2}]}>23.5$ and $L_X\gtrsim10^{44}\,\mathrm{erg\,cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}}$, which are consistent with results for individually detected sources. We also investigated the $L_X-L_{6\mu\mathrm{m}}$ and $L_X-L_{bol}$ relations, finding hints that Hot DOGs are typically X-ray weaker than expected, although larger samples of luminous obscured QSOs are needed to derive solid conclusions.