The 2MIG isolated AGNs – 2. X-ray general properties and peculiarities
Abstract
ABSTRACT We have analysed a sample of 2MASS Isolated Galaxy catalogue isolated galaxies hosting active galactic nucleui (isolated AGNs) to assess whether their nuclear activity differs from that in denser environments. The isolation criteria rule out interactions with other galaxies of similar evolutionary stage at least $\sim 3$ Gyr. We systematized the available Swift, NuSTAR, XMM–Newton, Chandra, and INTEGRAL X-ray data for isolated AGNs at $z\lt 0.05$, determining their general X-ray properties and peculiarities, spectral models, and supermassive black hole (SMBH) masses. We investigated the best spectral models for 20 isolated AGNs, including 9 sources fitted for the first time in this work. Our results indicate that an isolation of galaxies in the nearby Universe does not significantly affect nuclear activity. This conclusion is supported by the diversity of accretion types and the absence of any preference for a particular basic or composite spectral model. We note an interesting case for ESO 499–041, where the data-to-model ratio shows significant changes above 5 keV. These deviations from the continuum may tentatively indicate the presence of a relativistic iron line in the Chandra spectrum of ESO 499–041 compared to the Swift spectrum. We derived SMBH masses for 24/32 isolated AGNs applying the $M_{\rm BH}$–$\sigma _\star$ relation and used available estimates for 8/32. A general distribution is that 27/32 isolated AGN host SMBHs with $M_{\mathrm{SMBH}} \lesssim 10^{8}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$. For the first time, we found evidence of the linear correlation between L$_{2-10, \, \rm keV}$ and $\log M_{\mathrm{SMBH}}$ that is not observed in other AGN samples. This trend may be affected by the limited sample size and requires further confirmation with larger data sets.
Fields of Study & Subjects
X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Volume
- 549
- Issue
- 3
- Publication date
- 2 June 2026
- Language
- EN