Detailed Shape and Evolutionary Behavior of the X-Ray Luminosity Function of Active Galactic Nuclei

June 22, 2015

We revealed the detailed shape and evolutionary behavior of the X-ray luminosity function of active galactic nuclei between 1<z<5.8 using ~3200 X-ray selected AGNs, out of which approximately 40% are from the XMM-COSMOS and C-COSMOS programs. Thanks to the COSMOS samples, detailed structures of the AGN downsizing have been revealed. The number density curves plotted against the redshift show two clear breaks at all luminosity classes above L_X>43 erg s-1. The two-break flat-top structures and overall downsizing is suggestive of a two-phase AGN evolution scenario, consisting of major merger triggerings and secular processes. Read the paper at http://esoads.eso.org/abs/2015ApJ...804..104M

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Authors: Miyaji, T.; Hasinger, G.; Salvato, M.; Brusa, M.; Cappelluti, N.; Civano, F.; Puccetti, S.; Elvis, M.; Brunner, H.; Fotopoulou, S.; Ueda, Y.; Griffiths, R. E.; Koekemoer, A. M.; Akiyama, M.; Comastri, A.; Gilli, R.; Lanzuisi, G.; Merloni, A.; Vignali, C.