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In this work we have updated the list of active galactic nuclei (AGN) detected by INTEGRAL taking into account the new objects listed in the last published INTEGRAL/IBIS survey. We have collected 83 new AGN, increasing the number of INTEGRAL-detected active galaxies (436) by 19%. Half of these new additions are located behind the Galactic plane, and for most of them we have full X-ray coverage, obtained through archival data from Swift/XRT, XMM-Newton, and NuSTAR. The soft X-ray data allowed us to associate each high-energy emitter with a single or multiple X-ray counterpart(s) and characterise the spectral shape of these new AGN by estimating the photon index, the intrinsic absorption, and the 2–10 keV flux. A few cases where two soft X-ray counterparts fall within the INTEGRAL error circle and at least one is classified as an AGN have been found and discussed in detail. Thirty-four sources originally listed as AGN candidates or unidentified objects have been recognised as AGN by employing three diagnostic tests: WISE colours, radio emission, and morphology. For 12 sources among the 34 AGN candidates, we reduced the optical spectra and confirmed their AGN nature, providing also their optical class and redshift. This paper is part of an ongoing effort to keep the INTEGRAL AGN catalogue updated in order to provide the scientific community with a hard X-ray selected sample of well-classified and spectrally characterised active galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Based on their overwhelming dominance among associated Fermi γ-ray catalogue sources, it is expected that a large fraction of the unidentified Fermi objects are blazars. Through crossmatching between the positions of unidentified γ-ray sources from the First Fermi Catalog of γ-ray sources emitting above 10 GeV (1FHL) and the ROSAT and Swift/XRT catalogues of X-ray objects and between pointed XRT observations, a sample of 36 potential associations was found in previous works with less than 15 arcsec of positional offset. One-third of them have recently been classified; the remainder, though believed to belong to the blazar class, still lack spectroscopic classifications. Aims. We study the optical spectrum of the putative counterparts of these unidentified gamma-ray sources in order to find their redshifts and to determine their nature and main spectral characteristics. Methods. An observational campaign was carried out on the putative counterparts of 13 1FHL sources using medium-resolution optical spectroscopy from the Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna in Loiano, Italy; the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo and the Nordic Optical Telescope, both in the Canary Islands, Spain; and the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional San Pedro Mártir in Baja California, Mexico. Results. We were able to classify 14 new objects based on their continuum shapes and spectral features. Conclusions. Twelve new blazars were found, along with one new quasar and one new narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) to be potentially associated with the 1FHL sources of our sample. Redshifts or lower limits were obtained when possible alongside central black hole mass and luminosity estimates for the NLS1 and the quasar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the role of absorption in active galactic nuclei (AGN) with jets, we have studied the column density distribution of a hard X-ray selected sample of radio galaxies, derived from the INTEGRAL/Imager on Board the Integral Satellite (IBIS) and Swift/The Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) AGN catalogues (~7-10 per cent of the total AGN population). The 64 radio galaxies have a typical FR II radio morphology and are characterized by high 20-100 keV luminosities (from 1042 to 1046 erg s-1) and high Eddington ratios (log LBol/LEdd typically larger than ~0.01). The observed fraction of absorbed AGN (NH > 1022 cm-2) is around 40 per cent among the total sample, and ~75 per cent among type 2 AGN. The majority of obscuredAGNare narrow-line objects, while unobscuredAGNare broad-line objects, obeying to the zeroth-order predictions of unified models. A significant anti-correlation between the radio core dominance parameter and the X-ray column density is found. The observed fraction of Compton thick AGN is ~2-3 per cent, in comparison with the 5-7 per cent found in radio-quiet hard X-ray selected AGN. We have estimated the absorption and Compton thick fractions in a hard X-ray sample containing both radio galaxies and non-radio galaxies and therefore affected by the same selection biases. No statistical significant difference was found in the absorption properties of radio galaxies and non-radio galaxies sample. In particular, the Compton thick objects are likely missing in both samples and the fraction of obscured radio galaxies appears to decrease with luminosity as observed in hard X-ray non-radio galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the most recent IBIS survey based on observations performed during the first 1000 orbits of INTEGRAL, are listed 363 high-energy emitters firmly associated with AGN, 107 of which are reported here for the first time. We have used X-ray data to image the IBIS 90 per cent error circle of all the AGN in the sample of 107, in order to obtain the correct X-ray counterparts, locate them with arcsec accuracy and therefore pinpoint the correct optical counterparts. This procedure has led to the optical and spectral characterization of the entire sample. This new set consists of 34 broad line or type 1 AGN, 47 narrow line or type 2 AGN, 18 blazars and 8 sources of unknown class. These eight sources have been associated with AGN from their positional coincidence with 2MASX/Radio/X-ray sources. Seven high-energy emitters have been included since they are considered to be good AGN candidates. Spectral analysis has been already performed on 55 objects and the results from the most recent and/or best statistical measurements have been collected. For the remaining 52 sources, we report the spectral analysis for the first time in this work. We have been able to obtain the full X-ray coverage of the sample making use of data from Swift/XRT, XMM-Newton and NuSTAR. In addition to the spectral characterization of the entire sample, this analysis has enabled us to identify peculiar sources and by comparing different data sets, highlight flux variability in the 2-10 keV and 20-40 keV bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. The aim of this paper is to study the stellar population of galaxies hosting an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We studied a subsample of hard X-ray emitting AGNs from the INTEGRAL and Swift catalogs, which were previously identified and characterized through optical spectroscopy. Our analysis provides complementary information, namely age and metallicity, which is necessary to complete the panoramic view of these interesting objects. Methods. We selected hard X-ray emitting objects, identified as AGNs, by checking their optical spectra in search of absorption lines suitable for the stellar population analysis. We obtained a final sample consisting of 20 objects with a redshift lower than 0.3. We used the full-spectrum fitting method; particularly, we use penalized pixel method and apply the PPXF code. After masking all the regions affected by emission lines, we fitted the spectra with the MILES single stellar population templates, and we derived mass-weighted ages and metallicities. Results. Most of the objects in our sample show an old stellar population; however, three of them are characterized by a bimodal distribution with a non-negligible contribution from young stars. The values of the mass-weighted metallicity span a wide range with most of them slightly above the solar value. No relations between the stellar population properties and the morphological ones have been found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many sources in the fourth INTEGRAL/IBIS catalogue are still unidentified since they lack an optical counterpart. An important tool that can help in identifying and classifying these sources is the cross-correlation with radio catalogues, which are very sensitive and positionally accurate. Moreover, the radio properties of a source, such as the spectrum or morphology, could provide further insight into its nature. In particular, flat-spectrum radio sources at high Galactic latitudes are likely to be AGN, possibly associated to a blazar or to the compact core of a radio galaxy. Here we present a small sample of 6 sources extracted from the fourth INTEGRAL/IBIS catalogue that are still unidentified or unclassified, but which are very likely associated with a bright, flat-spectrum radio object. To confirm the association and to study the source X-ray spectral parameters, we performed X-ray follow-up observations with Swift/XRT of all objects. We report in this note the overall results obtained from this search and discuss the nature of each individual INTEGRAL source. We find that 5 of the 6 radio associations are also detected in X-rays; furthermore, in 3 cases they are the only counterpart found. More specifically, IGR J06073-0024 is a flat-spectrum radio quasar at z = 1.08, IGR J14488-4008 is a newly discovered radio galaxy, while IGR J18129-0649 is an AGN of a still unknown type. The nature of two sources (IGR J07225-3810 and IGR J19386-4653) is less well defined, since in both cases we find another X-ray source in the INTEGRAL error circle; nevertheless, the flat-spectrum radio source, likely to be a radio loud AGN, remains a viable and, in fact, a more convincing association in both cases. Only for the last object (IGR J11544-7618) could we not find any convincing counterpart since the radio association is not an X-ray emitter, while the only X-ray source seen in the field is a G star and therefore unlikely to produce the persistent emission seen by INTEGRAL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the identification of a new soft gamma-ray source, IGR J12319-0749, detected with the IBIS imager on board the INTEGRAL satellite. The source, which has an observed 20-100 keV flux of ∼8.3 × 10-12 erg cm-2 s-1, is spatially coincident with an active galactic nucleus (AGN) at redshift z = 3.12. The broad-band continuum, obtained by combining XRT and IBIS data, is flat (-Γ = 1.3) with evidence for a spectral break around 25 keV (100 keV in the source restframe). X-ray observations indicate flux variability, which is also supported by a comparison with a previous ROSAT measurement. IGR J12319-0749 is also a radio-emitting object likely characterised by a flat spectrum and high radio loudness; optically it is a broad-line emitting object with a massive black hole (2.8 × 109 solar masses) at its centre. The source spectral energy distribution is similar to another high-redshift blazar, 225155+2217 at z = 3.668: both objects are bright, with a high accretion disk luminosity and a Compton peak located in the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray band. IGR J12319-0749 is likely the second-most distant blazar detected so far by INTEGRAL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss the broad-band X-ray characteristics of a complete sample of 36 type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN), detected by INTEGRAL in the 20–40 keV band above the 5.5σ level. We present, for all the objects in the sample, the broad-band (1–110 keV) spectral analysis obtained by using INTEGRAL/ Swift/Burst Alert Telescope observations together with XMM–Newton, Chandra, ASCA and Swift/X-Ray Telescope data. We also present the general average properties of the sample, i.e. the distribution of photon indices, high-energy cut-offs, reflection fractions and absorption properties, together with an in-depth analysis of their parameter space. We find that the average Seyfert 1 power law has an index of 1.7 with a dispersion of 0.2. The mean cut-off energy is at around 100 keV, with most objects displaying Ec in the range 50–150 keV; the average amount of Compton reflection is 1.5 with a typical dispersion of 0.7. We do not find any convincing correlation between the various parameters, an indication that our analysis is not strongly dependent by the interplay between them. Finally, we investigate how the results presented in this work fit into current frameworks for AGN spectral modelling and cosmic diffuse X-ray background synthesis models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from a complete sample of type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) observed by INTEGRAL in the 20–40 keV band, we have selected a set of eight AGN which can be classified as radio-loud objects according to their 1.4 GHz power density, radio-to-hard X-ray flux density ratio and radio morphology. The sample contains six broad-line radio Galaxies and two candidate ones. Most of the objects in our sample display a double-lobe morphology, both on small and large scales. For all the objects, we present broad-band (1–110 keV) spectral analysis using INTEGRAL observations together with archival XMM–Newton, Chandra, Swift/XRT and Swift/BAT data. We constrain the primary continuum (photon index and cut-off energy), intrinsic absorption and reprocessing features (iron line and reflection) in most of the objects. The sources analysed here show remarkable similarities to radio-quiet type 1 AGN with respect to most of the parameters analysed; we only find marginal evidence for weaker reprocessing features in our objects compared to their radio-quiet counterparts. Similarly, we do not find any correlation between the spectral parameters studied and the source core dominance or radio to 20–100 keV flux density ratios, suggesting that what makes our objects radio loud has no effect on their high-energy characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies are very interesting objects which display peculiar properties when compared to their broad-line analogues (BLS1). Although well studied in many wavebands, their behaviour at >10 keV is poorly studied and yet important to discriminate between models invoked to explain the complexity observed in the X-ray band. Here, we present for the first time high-energy observations (17–100 keV) of five NLS1 galaxies (three bona fide and two candidates) detected by INTEGRAL/Imager on Board INTEGRAL Satellite (IBIS) and provide for all of them a broad-band spectral analysis using data obtained by Swift/ XRT below 10 keV. The combined INTEGRAL spectrum is found to be steeper than those of classical Seyfert 1 objects. This is due to a high-energy cut-off, which is required in some individual fits as in the average broad-band spectrum. The location of this high-energy cut-off is at lower energies than typically seen in classical type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs); a reflection component may also be present but its value is compatible with those seen in standard Seyfert 1s. We do not detect a soft excess in individual objects but only in their cumulative spectrum. Our results suggest a lower plasma temperature for the accreting plasma which combined to the high accretion rates (close to the Eddington rate) points to different nuclear conditions in broad and NLS1 galaxies, likely related to different evolutionary stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present radio and high-energy observations of the INTEGRAL source IGR J21247+5058, a broad line emitting galaxy obscured by the Galactic plane. Archival Very Large Array radio data indicate that IGR J21247+5058 can be classified as an Faranoff–Riley type II Broad-Line Radio Galaxy. The spectrum between 610 MHz and 15 GHz is typical of synchrotron self-absorbed radiation with a peak at 8 GHz and a low-energy turnover; the core fraction is 0.1 suggestive of a moderate Doppler boosting of the base of the jet. The high-energy broad-band spectrum was obtained by combining XMM–Newton and Swift/X-Ray Telescope (XRT) observation with INTEGRAL/Image on Board Integral Satellite (IBIS) data. The 0.4–100-keV spectrum is well described by a power law, with slope , characterized by complex absorption due to two layers of material partially covering the source and a high-energy cut-off around 70–80 keV. Features such as a narrow iron line and a Compton reflection component, if present, are weak, suggesting that reprocessing of the power-law photons in the accretion disc plays a negligible role in the source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present INTEGRAL observations of seven active galactic nuclei (AGNs): two newly discovered type 1 Seyferts, IGR J18027−1455 and J21247+5058 and five well-known Seyferts, NGC 6814 (type 1.5), Cygnus A (type 2), MCG-05-23-16 (type 2), ESO 103-G035 (type 2) and GRS 1734-292. For IGR J18027−1455 and J21247+5058, only INTEGRAL/IBIS data were available, while broad-band spectra are presented and discussed for the remaining five sources for which either BeppoSAX or ASCA data were used in conjunction with INTEGRAL measurements. In the cases of NGC 6814 and GRS 1734-292, data taken in different periods indicate variability in the flux: in the case of NGC 6814 by a factor of 16 over a period of about 10 years. Although limited in size, our sample can be used to investigate the parameter space of both the photon index and cut-off energy. The mean photon index is 1.8, while the cut-off energy ranges from 30–50 keV to greater than 200 keV; in the particular case of MCG-05-23-16, ESO 103-G035 and GRS 1734-292, the cut-off energy is well constrained at or below 100 keV. We have also tested an enlarged sample, which includes INTEGRAL data of three more AGNs, against the correlation found by a number of authors between the photon index and the cut-off energy but have found no evidence for a relation between these two parameters. Our analysis indicates that there is a diversity in cut-off energies in the primary continuum of Seyfert galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]