Contribution from AGNs to the IR background

The IR spectra of broad‐ and narrow‐line Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are modelled on the assumption of existence of dust tori around the active nuclei. The outcomes of the model are compared with broad IR spectra, visibility of broad lines in the IR, the extension of the IR emission and the X‐ray properties of type 1 and 2 AGN. The contribution to the mid‐IR background is then estimated properly taking into account local Luminosity Functions, cosmological evolution and spectral properties. Under plausible assumptions, the (dusty) AGN may yield a significant fraction of the extragalactic background in the range 10–50 μm.