Observational properties of active galactic nucleus obscuration during the peak of accretion growth

Abstract

ABSTRACT We investigated the gas obscuration and host galaxy properties of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) during the peak of cosmic accretion growth of supermassive black holes at redshift 0.8–1.8 using X-ray-detected AGNs with mid-infrared and far-infrared detection. The sample was classified as type-1 and type-2 AGNs using optical spectral and morphological classification while the host galaxy properties were estimated with multiwavelength spectral energy distribution fitting. For type-1 AGNs, the black hole mass was determined from MgII emission lines while the black hole mass of type-2 AGNs was inferred from the host galaxy’s stellar mass. Based on the derived parameters, the distribution of the sample in the absorption hydrogen column density (NH) versus Eddington ratio diagram is examined. Among the type-2 AGNs, 28 ± 5 per cent are in the forbidden zone, where the obscuration by dust torus cannot be maintained due to radiation pressure on dusty material. The fraction is higher than that observed in the local universe from the Burst Alert Telescope AGN Spectroscopic Survey data release 2 (BASS DR2) (11 ± 3 per cent). The higher fraction implies that the obscuration of the majority of AGNs is consistent with the radiation pressure regulated unified model but with an increased incidence of interstellar matter (ISM)-obscured AGNs. We discuss the possibility of dust-free absorption in type-1 AGNs and heavy ISM absorption in type-2 AGNs. We also find no statistical difference in the star-formation activity between type-1 and type-2 AGNs which may suggest that obscuration triggered by a gas-rich merging is not common among X-ray detected AGNs in this epoch.