Identifying Compton-thick AGNs with Machine learning algorithm in Chandra Deep Field-South

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhang, Rui, Guo, Xiaotong, Gu, Qiusheng, Fang, Guanwen, Xu, Jun, Feng, Hai-Cheng, Chen, Yongyun, Li, Rui, Ding, Nan, Wang, Hongtao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Zhang, Rui
Guo, Xiaotong
Gu, Qiusheng
Fang, Guanwen
Xu, Jun
Feng, Hai-Cheng
Chen, Yongyun
Li, Rui
Ding, Nan
Wang, Hongtao
author_facet Zhang, Rui
Guo, Xiaotong
Gu, Qiusheng
Fang, Guanwen
Xu, Jun
Feng, Hai-Cheng
Chen, Yongyun
Li, Rui
Ding, Nan
Wang, Hongtao
contents Compton-thick active galactic nuclei (CT-AGNs), which are defined by column density $\mathrm{N_H} \geqslant 1.5 \times 10^{24} \ \mathrm{cm}^{-2}$, 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 $\sim$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.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_21105
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Identifying Compton-thick AGNs with Machine learning algorithm in Chandra Deep Field-South
Zhang, Rui
Guo, Xiaotong
Gu, Qiusheng
Fang, Guanwen
Xu, Jun
Feng, Hai-Cheng
Chen, Yongyun
Li, Rui
Ding, Nan
Wang, Hongtao
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Compton-thick active galactic nuclei (CT-AGNs), which are defined by column density $\mathrm{N_H} \geqslant 1.5 \times 10^{24} \ \mathrm{cm}^{-2}$, 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 $\sim$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.
title Identifying Compton-thick AGNs with Machine learning algorithm in Chandra Deep Field-South
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.21105