TY - JOUR
T1 - X-ray selected AGN Hosts are Similar to Inactive Galaxies out to z=3: Results from CANDELS/CDF-S
AU - Rosario, D. J.
AU - Mozena, M.
AU - Wuyts, S.
AU - Nandra, K.
AU - Koekemoer, A.
AU - McGrath, E.
AU - Hathi, N.
AU - Dekel, A.
AU - Donley, J.
AU - Dunlop, J. S.
AU - Faber, S. M.
AU - Ferguson, H.
AU - Giavalisco, M.
AU - Grogin, N.
AU - Guo, Y.
AU - Newman, J.
AU - Kocevski, D. D.
AU - Koo, D. C.
AU - Somerville, R.
PY - 2011/10/1
Y1 - 2011/10/1
N2 - We use multi-band high-resolution photometry in the 4 MSec Chandra Deep
Field-South (CDF-S), in particular imaging from the Cosmic Assembly
Near-IR Deep Legacy Survey (CANDELS), to explore the nuclear and
extended colors, color gradients and stellar populations of X-ray
selected AGN host galaxies out to z=3. Based on a study of their central
light, we develop X-ray based criteria to exclude objects with strong
AGN contamination. We use stellar masses from the FIREWORKS database to
understand and account for stellar mass selection effects, and carefully
study, for the first time, the resolved host galaxy properties of AGNs
at z~2 in the rest-frame optical light without substantial nuclear
contamination. We find that AGN hosts span a large range of stellar
masses, colors and color gradients at these redshifts. In terms of their
colors and stellar population properties, they are very similar to
inactive galaxies of the same stellar mass. At z~1, we find a slightly
narrower range in host colors compared to inactive galaxies, as well as
hints of more recent star-formation. These differences are weaker or
non-existent among AGN hosts at z~2. Finally, we find that AGNs show
flatter color gradients compared to inactive galaxies, with the degree
of flatness correlating with AGN luminosity, implying that, even among
obscured AGNs with no clear nuclear contamination, central photometry
can be affected by nuclear activity, perhaps through scattered AGN
light. We discuss the importance of AGN driven feedback in the quenching
of galaxies at z>~1 and speculate on possible evolution in the
relationship between black hole accretion and the host galaxy at high
redshifts.
AB - We use multi-band high-resolution photometry in the 4 MSec Chandra Deep
Field-South (CDF-S), in particular imaging from the Cosmic Assembly
Near-IR Deep Legacy Survey (CANDELS), to explore the nuclear and
extended colors, color gradients and stellar populations of X-ray
selected AGN host galaxies out to z=3. Based on a study of their central
light, we develop X-ray based criteria to exclude objects with strong
AGN contamination. We use stellar masses from the FIREWORKS database to
understand and account for stellar mass selection effects, and carefully
study, for the first time, the resolved host galaxy properties of AGNs
at z~2 in the rest-frame optical light without substantial nuclear
contamination. We find that AGN hosts span a large range of stellar
masses, colors and color gradients at these redshifts. In terms of their
colors and stellar population properties, they are very similar to
inactive galaxies of the same stellar mass. At z~1, we find a slightly
narrower range in host colors compared to inactive galaxies, as well as
hints of more recent star-formation. These differences are weaker or
non-existent among AGN hosts at z~2. Finally, we find that AGNs show
flatter color gradients compared to inactive galaxies, with the degree
of flatness correlating with AGN luminosity, implying that, even among
obscured AGNs with no clear nuclear contamination, central photometry
can be affected by nuclear activity, perhaps through scattered AGN
light. We discuss the importance of AGN driven feedback in the quenching
of galaxies at z>~1 and speculate on possible evolution in the
relationship between black hole accretion and the host galaxy at high
redshifts.
U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/763/1/59
DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/763/1/59
M3 - Article
SN - 0004-637X
VL - 763
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
IS - 1
M1 - 59
ER -