X-ray Analysis of AGN from the GALEX Time Domain Survey

Abstract

We analyze the X-ray properties for a sample of 23 high probability AGN candidates with ultraviolet variability identified in Wasleske et al. (2022). Using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the XMM-Newton Observatory, we find 11/23 nuclei are X-ray detected. We use SED modeling to compute star formation rates and show that the X-ray luminosities are typically in excess of the X-ray emission expected from star formation by at least an order of magnitude. Interestingly, this sample shows a diversity of optical spectroscopic properties. We explore possible reasons for why some objects lack optical spectroscopic signatures of black hole activity while still being UV variable and X-ray bright. We find that host galaxy stellar emission and obscuration from gas and dust are all potential factors. We study where this sample falls on relationships such as $\alpha_{\rm OX}-L_{2500}$ and $L_{X}-L_{IR}$ and find that some of the sample falls outside the typical scatter for these relations, indicating they differ from the standard quasar population. With the diversity of optical spectroscopic signatures and varying impacts of dust and stellar emissions on our sample, these results emphasizes the strength of variability in selecting the most complete set of AGN, regardless of other host galaxy properties.