The High-Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): the circum-nuclear environment of growing supermassive black holes

Boorman, P. G.; Torres-Albà, N.; Annuar, A.; Marchesi, S.; Pfeifle, R. W.; Stern, D.; Civano, F.; Baloković, M.; Buchner, J.; Ricci, C.; Alexander, D. M.; Brandt, W. N.; Brightman, M.; Chen, C. T.; Creech, S.; Gandhi, P.; García, J. A.; Harrison, F.; Hickox, R.; Kammoun, E.; LaMassa, S.; Lanzuisi, G.; Marcotulli, L.; Madsen, K.; Matt, G.; Matzeu, G.; Nardini, E.; Piotrowska, J. M.; Pizzetti, A.; Puccetti, S.; Sicilian, D.; Silver, R.; Walton, D. J.; Wilkins, D. R.; Zhao, X.; The HEX-P Collaboration

doi:10.3389/fspas.2024.1335459

The High-Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): the circum-nuclear environment of growing supermassive black holes

Boorman, P. G.; Torres-Albà, N.; Annuar, A.; Marchesi, S.; Pfeifle, R. W.; Stern, D.; Civano, F.; Baloković, M.; Buchner, J.; Ricci, C.; Alexander, D. M.; Brandt, W. N.; Brightman, M.; Chen, C. T.; Creech, S.; Gandhi, P.; García, J. A.; Harrison, F.; Hickox, R.; Kammoun, E.; LaMassa, S.; Lanzuisi, G.; Marcotulli, L.; Madsen, K.; Matt, G.; Matzeu, G.; Nardini, E.; Piotrowska, J. M.; Pizzetti, A.; Puccetti, S.; Sicilian, D.; Silver, R.; Walton, D. J.; Wilkins, D. R.; Zhao, X.; The HEX-P Collaboration

Authors

P. G. Boorman

N. Torres-Albà

A. Annuar

S. Marchesi

R. W. Pfeifle

D. Stern

F. Civano

M. Baloković

J. Buchner

C. Ricci

Professor David Alexander d.m.alexander@durham.ac.uk
Professor

W. N. Brandt

M. Brightman

C. T. Chen

S. Creech

P. Gandhi

J. A. García

F. Harrison

R. Hickox

E. Kammoun

S. LaMassa

G. Lanzuisi

L. Marcotulli

K. Madsen

G. Matt

G. Matzeu

E. Nardini

J. M. Piotrowska

A. Pizzetti

S. Puccetti

D. Sicilian

R. Silver

D. J. Walton

D. R. Wilkins

X. Zhao

The HEX-P Collaboration

Abstract

Ever since the discovery of the first active galactic nuclei (AGN), substantial observational and theoretical effort has been invested into understanding how massive black holes have evolved across cosmic time. Circum-nuclear obscuration is now established as a crucial component, with almost every AGN observed known to display signatures of some level of obscuration in their X-ray spectra. However, despite more than six decades of effort, substantial open questions remain: how does the accretion power impact the structure of the circum-nuclear obscurer? What are the dynamical properties of the obscurer? Can dense circum-nuclear obscuration exist around intrinsically weak AGN? How many intermediate mass black holes occupy the centers of dwarf galaxies? In this paper, we showcase a number of next-generation prospects attainable with the High-Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P1) to contribute toward solving these questions in the 2030s. The uniquely broad (0.2–80 keV) and strictly simultaneous X-ray passband of HEX-P makes it ideally suited for studying the temporal co-evolution between the central engine and circum-nuclear obscurer. Improved sensitivities and reduced background will enable the development of spectroscopic models complemented by current and future multi-wavelength observations. We show that the angular resolution of HEX-P both below and above 10 keV will enable the discovery and confirmation of accreting massive black holes at both low accretion power and low black hole masses even when concealed by thick obscuration. In combination with other next-generation observations of the dusty hearts of nearby galaxies, HEX-P will be pivotal in paving the way toward a complete picture of black hole growth and galaxy co-evolution.

Citation

Boorman, P. G., Torres-Albà, N., Annuar, A., Marchesi, S., Pfeifle, R. W., Stern, D., …The HEX-P Collaboration. (2024). The High-Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P): the circum-nuclear environment of growing supermassive black holes. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 11, Article 1335459. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2024.1335459

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Feb 21, 2024
Online Publication Date	May 14, 2024
Publication Date	May 14, 2024
Deposit Date	Jul 11, 2024
Publicly Available Date	Jul 11, 2024
Journal	Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Publisher	Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	11
Article Number	1335459
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2024.1335459
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2525059

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