Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-11-2014
Publication Title
The Astrophysical Journal
Department
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We present the results of a combined galaxy population analysis for the host galaxies of active galactic nuclei (AGN) identified at 0 < z < 1.4 within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Boötes, and DEEP2 surveys. We identified AGN in a uniform and unbiased manner at X-ray, infrared, and radio wavelengths. Supermassive black holes undergoing radiatively efficient accretion (detected as X-ray and/or infrared AGN) appear to be hosted in a separate and distinct galaxy population than AGN undergoing powerful mechanically dominated accretion (radio AGN). Consistent with some previous studies, radiatively efficient AGN appear to be preferentially hosted in modest star-forming galaxies, with little dependence on AGN or galaxy luminosity. AGN exhibiting radio-emitting jets due to mechanically dominated accretion are almost exclusively observed in massive, passive galaxies. Crucially, we now provide strong evidence that the observed host-galaxy trends are independent of redshift. In particular, these different accretion-mode AGN have remained as separate galaxy populations throughout the last 9 Gyr. Furthermore, it appears that galaxies hosting AGN have evolved along the same path as galaxies that are not hosting AGN with little evidence for distinctly separate evolution.
DOI
10.1088/0004-637X/783/1/40
Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation
Goulding, A. D.; Forman, W. R.; Hickox, R. C.; and Jones, C., "Tracing the Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei Host Galaxies Over The Last 9 Gyr of Cosmic Time" (2014). Dartmouth Scholarship. 2167.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/2167
Included in
Cosmology, Relativity, and Gravity Commons, External Galaxies Commons, Physical Processes Commons
