A new sample of obscured AGNs selected from the XMM-Newton and AKARI surveys

We report a new sample of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected from the XMM-Newton serendipitous source and AKARI point-source catalogs. We match X-ray sources with infrared (18 and 90 μm) sources located at $|b|>{10}^{\circ }$ to create a sample consisting of 173 objects. Their optical classifications and absorption column densities measured by X-ray spectra are compiled and study efficient selection criteria to find obscured AGNs. We apply the criteria (1) X-ray hardness ratio defined by using the 2–4.5 keV and 4.5–12 keV bands > −0.1 and (2) EPIC-PN count rate (CR) in the 0.2–12 keV to infrared flux ratio CR/$F_{90}<0.1$ or CR/$F_{18}<1,$ where F₁₈ and F₉₀ are infrared fluxes at 18 and 90 μm in Jy, respectively, to search for obscured AGNs. X-ray spectra of 48 candidates, for which no X-ray results have been published, are analyzed and X-ray evidence for the presence of obscured AGNs such as a convex shape X-ray spectrum indicative of absorption of $N_H$ ∼ 10^22–24 cm⁻², a very flat continuum, or a strong Fe–K emission line with an equivalent width of $>700eV$ is found in 26 objects. Six of them are classified as Compton-thick AGNs, and four are represented by either Compton-thin or Compton-thick spectral models. The success rate of finding obscured AGNs combining our analysis and the literature is 92% if the 18 μm condition is used. Of the 26 objects, 4 are optically classified as an H ii nucleus and are new "elusive AGNs" in which star formation activity likely overwhelms AGN emission in the optical and infrared bands.