SIMBAD references

2025ApJ...987...46Z - Astrophys. J., 987, 46 (2025/July-1)

Identifying Compton-thick Active Galactic Nuclei with a Machine Learning Algorithm in Chandra Deep Field-South.

ZHANG R., GUO X., GU Q., FANG G., XU J., FENG H.-C., CHEN Y., LI R., DING N. and WANG H.

Abstract (from CDS):

Compton-thick active galactic nuclei (CT-AGNs), which are defined by column density NH ≥ 1.5 × 1024 cm–2, emit feeble X-ray radiation, even undetectable by X-ray instruments. Despite this, the X-ray emissions from CT-AGNs are believed to be a substantial contributor to the cosmic X-ray background (CXB). According to synthesis models of AGNs, CT-AGNs are expected to make up a significant fraction of the AGN population, likely around 30% or more. However, only ∼11% of AGNs have been identified as CT-AGNs in the Chandra Deep Field-South (CDFS). To identify hitherto unknown CT-AGNs in the field, we used a random forest algorithm for identifying them. First, we build a secure classified subset of 210 AGNs to train and evaluate our algorithm. Our algorithm achieved an accuracy rate of 90% on the test set after training. Then, we applied our algorithm to an additional subset of 254 AGNs, successfully identifying 67 CT-AGNs within this group. This result significantly increased the fraction of CT-AGNs in the CDFS, which is closer to the theoretical predictions of the CXB. Finally, we compared the properties of host galaxies between CT-AGNs and non-CT-AGNs and found that the host galaxies of CT-AGNs exhibit higher levels of star formation activity.

Abstract Copyright: © 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

Journal keyword(s): Active galactic nuclei - X-ray active galactic nuclei - Diffuse x-ray background - X-ray point sources

Status at CDS : Large table(s) will be appraised for possible ingestion in VizieR.

Simbad objects: 466

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