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Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies

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Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies. / Jackson, F. E.; Roberts, T. P.; Gelbord, J. M. et al.
X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives - Proceedings of the International Conference. 2010. p. 449-450 (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1248).

Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSNConference contribution/Paper

Harvard

Jackson, FE, Roberts, TP, Gelbord, JM, Ward, MJ, Wardlow, JL, Alexander, DM & Watson, MG 2010, Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies. in X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives - Proceedings of the International Conference. AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 1248, pp. 449-450, International Conference on X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives, Bologna, Italy, 7/09/09. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3475293

APA

Jackson, F. E., Roberts, T. P., Gelbord, J. M., Ward, M. J., Wardlow, J. L., Alexander, D. M., & Watson, M. G. (2010). Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies. In X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives - Proceedings of the International Conference (pp. 449-450). (AIP Conference Proceedings; Vol. 1248). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3475293

Vancouver

Jackson FE, Roberts TP, Gelbord JM, Ward MJ, Wardlow JL, Alexander DM et al. Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies. In X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives - Proceedings of the International Conference. 2010. p. 449-450. (AIP Conference Proceedings). doi: 10.1063/1.3475293

Author

Jackson, F. E. ; Roberts, T. P. ; Gelbord, J. M. et al. / Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies. X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives - Proceedings of the International Conference. 2010. pp. 449-450 (AIP Conference Proceedings).

Bibtex

@inproceedings{adf1c1603be14b5a8f7118c2c6109e7d,
title = "Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies",
abstract = "It is commonly assumed in deep survey work that all galaxies with X-ray luminosities above about 1042ergs-1 harbour AGN, regardless of their optical spectrum, due to the absence of starburst galaxies in the local Universe reaching such extreme luminosities. We investigate the validity of this assumption using new Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of three relatively nearby (z∼0.1) starburst galaxies, chosen on the basis of their SDSS optical spectrum, and their coincidence with a bright X-ray source from the 2XMMp catalogue. If originating from the galaxy in question, the X-ray luminosity is in each case greater than 1042ergs-1 (and in one case reaches 1043ergs-1), meaning these would be the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies yet discovered if no AGN were present. However, the new X-ray data shows two of the three sources to display X-ray spectral and temporal variability between observations, with all three appearing point-like at Chandra resolution. Furthermore they are spectrally dissimilar to starburst X-ray emission, possessing power-law dominated spectra more reminiscent of AGN. We therefore conclude that otherwise innocuous AGN are indeed fuelling the X-ray emission from these galaxies, and that the assumption starburst galaxies do not exceed 1042ergs-1 remains observationally justified.",
keywords = "active galactic nuclei, star formation",
author = "Jackson, {F. E.} and Roberts, {T. P.} and Gelbord, {J. M.} and Ward, {M. J.} and Wardlow, {J. L.} and Alexander, {D. M.} and Watson, {M. G.}",
year = "2010",
month = aug,
day = "26",
doi = "10.1063/1.3475293",
language = "English",
isbn = "9780735407954",
series = "AIP Conference Proceedings",
pages = "449--450",
booktitle = "X-ray Astronomy-2009",
note = "International Conference on X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives ; Conference date: 07-09-2009 Through 11-09-2009",

}

RIS

TY - GEN

T1 - Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies

AU - Jackson, F. E.

AU - Roberts, T. P.

AU - Gelbord, J. M.

AU - Ward, M. J.

AU - Wardlow, J. L.

AU - Alexander, D. M.

AU - Watson, M. G.

PY - 2010/8/26

Y1 - 2010/8/26

N2 - It is commonly assumed in deep survey work that all galaxies with X-ray luminosities above about 1042ergs-1 harbour AGN, regardless of their optical spectrum, due to the absence of starburst galaxies in the local Universe reaching such extreme luminosities. We investigate the validity of this assumption using new Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of three relatively nearby (z∼0.1) starburst galaxies, chosen on the basis of their SDSS optical spectrum, and their coincidence with a bright X-ray source from the 2XMMp catalogue. If originating from the galaxy in question, the X-ray luminosity is in each case greater than 1042ergs-1 (and in one case reaches 1043ergs-1), meaning these would be the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies yet discovered if no AGN were present. However, the new X-ray data shows two of the three sources to display X-ray spectral and temporal variability between observations, with all three appearing point-like at Chandra resolution. Furthermore they are spectrally dissimilar to starburst X-ray emission, possessing power-law dominated spectra more reminiscent of AGN. We therefore conclude that otherwise innocuous AGN are indeed fuelling the X-ray emission from these galaxies, and that the assumption starburst galaxies do not exceed 1042ergs-1 remains observationally justified.

AB - It is commonly assumed in deep survey work that all galaxies with X-ray luminosities above about 1042ergs-1 harbour AGN, regardless of their optical spectrum, due to the absence of starburst galaxies in the local Universe reaching such extreme luminosities. We investigate the validity of this assumption using new Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of three relatively nearby (z∼0.1) starburst galaxies, chosen on the basis of their SDSS optical spectrum, and their coincidence with a bright X-ray source from the 2XMMp catalogue. If originating from the galaxy in question, the X-ray luminosity is in each case greater than 1042ergs-1 (and in one case reaches 1043ergs-1), meaning these would be the most X-ray luminous starburst galaxies yet discovered if no AGN were present. However, the new X-ray data shows two of the three sources to display X-ray spectral and temporal variability between observations, with all three appearing point-like at Chandra resolution. Furthermore they are spectrally dissimilar to starburst X-ray emission, possessing power-law dominated spectra more reminiscent of AGN. We therefore conclude that otherwise innocuous AGN are indeed fuelling the X-ray emission from these galaxies, and that the assumption starburst galaxies do not exceed 1042ergs-1 remains observationally justified.

KW - active galactic nuclei

KW - star formation

U2 - 10.1063/1.3475293

DO - 10.1063/1.3475293

M3 - Conference contribution/Paper

AN - SCOPUS:77955828917

SN - 9780735407954

T3 - AIP Conference Proceedings

SP - 449

EP - 450

BT - X-ray Astronomy-2009

T2 - International Conference on X-ray Astronomy-2009: Present Status, Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives

Y2 - 7 September 2009 through 11 September 2009

ER -