Magellan spectroscopy of AGN candidates in the COSMOS field

Jonathan R. Trump, Chris D. Impey, Patrick J. McCarthy, Martin Elvis, John P. Huchra, Marcella Brusa, Gunther Hasinger, Eva Schinnerer, Peter Capak, Simon J. Lilly, Nick Z. Scoville

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present spectroscopic redshifts for the first 466 X-ray- and radio-selected AGN targets in the 2 deg 2 COSMOS field. Spectra were obtained with the IMACS instrument on the Magellan (Baade) telescope, using the nod-and-shuffle technique. We identify a variety of type 1 and type 2 AGNs, as well as red galaxies with no emission lines. Our redshift yield is 72% down to i AB = 24, although the yield is >90% for i AB < 22, We expect the completeness to increase as the survey continues. When our survey is complete and additional redshifts from the zCOSMOS project are included, we anticipate ∼1100 AGNs with redshifts over the entire COSMOS field. Our redshift survey is consistent with an obscured AGN population that peaks at z ∼ 0.7, although further work is necessary to disentangle the selection effects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)383-395
Number of pages13
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume172
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Galaxies: active
  • Quasars: general
  • Surveys

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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