Optical Classification of Chandra Serendipitous Sources by the ChaMP

Paul J. Green(SAO) Robert Cameron (SAO), Buell Jannuzi (NOAO) Aaron LaCluyze (MSU), John Silverman (SAO), Craig Foltz (MMTO), Paul Smith (Steward), Belinda J. Wilkes (SAO) the ChaMP Collaboration ()

Abstract

We describe our ongoing optical imaging and spectroscopy of a deep, wide-area sample of serendipitous X-ray sources detected in Chandra archival images. The Chandra Multiwavelength Project (ChaMP) thus enables studies of the nature, evolution, and clustering of X-ray selected AGN and galaxies. Chandra's subarcsecond astrometry enables unambiguous identification of optical counterparts, and the broadband X-ray sensitivity (0.3-8keV) means that our sample is less affected by absorption than previous optical, UV, or soft X-ray surveys. Unlike radio surveys , the ChaMP will allow the first complete census of the intrinsic population of AGN (not just the radio bright fraction). We present initial results that will eventually encompass a sample of thousands of serendipitous sources detected in 150 Chandra archival images, to constrain the X-ray luminosity function and its evolution.

CATEGORY: EXTRAGALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION AND SURVEYS