Abstract We explore the capabilities of the future space science mission IXO (International X-ray Observatory) for obtaining cosmological redshifts of distant Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) using the X-ray data only. We first find in which regions of the X-ray luminosity (L X) versus redshift (z) plane the weak but ubiquitous Fe Kα narrow emission line can deliver an accurate redshift (δz <5%) as a function of exposure time, using a CCD-based Wide Field Imager (IXO/WFI) as the one baselined for IXO. Down to a 2–10keV X-ray flux of 10−14 ergcm−2 s−1 IXO/WFI exposures of 100ks, 300ks and 1Ms will deliver 20%, 40% and 60% of the redshifts. This means that in a typical 18′×18′ IXO/WFI field of view, 4, 10 and 25 redshifts will be obtained for free from the X-ray data alone, spanning a wide range up to z ∼2–3 and fairly sampling the real distribution. Measuring redshifts of fainter sources will indeed need spectroscopy at other wavebands.
X-ray redshifts with the International X-ray Observatory (IXO)
Advances in Space Research ; 48 , 7 ; 1304-1310
2011-06-11
7 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
X-ray redshifts with the International X-ray Observatory (IXO)
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