In the black hole (BH)–galaxy co-evolution framework, most of the star formation (SF) and the BH accretion are expected to take place in highly obscured conditions. The large amount of gas and dust absorbs most of the UV-to-soft-X radiation and re-emits it at longer wavelengths, mostly in the IR. Thus, obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) are very difficult to identify in optical or X-ray bands but shine bright in the IR. Moreover, X-ray background (XRB) synthesis models predict that a large fraction of the yet-unresolved XRB is due to the most obscured (Compton thick, CT: N $_{\text{H}}\ge 10^{24} \,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}$ ) of these AGN. In this work, we investigate the synergies between putative IR missions [using SPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA), proposed for European Space Agency (ESA)/M5 but withdrawn in 2020 October, and Origins Space Telescope, OST, as ‘templates’] and the X-ray mission Athena (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics), which should fly in early 2030s, in detecting and characterising AGN, with a particular focus on the most obscured ones. Using an XRB synthesis model, we estimated the number of AGN and the number of those which will be detected in the X-rays by Athena. For each AGN, we associated an optical-to-Far InfraRed (FIR) spectral energy distribution (SED) from observed AGN with both X-ray data and SED decomposition and used these SEDs to check if the AGN will be detected by SPICA-like or OST at IR wavelengths. We expect that, with the deepest Athena and SPICA-like (or OST) surveys, we will be able to photometrically detect in the IR more than 90% of all the AGN (down to $L_{2-10\text{keV}} \sim 10^{42}\,\mathrm{erg\ s}^{-1}$ and up to $z \sim 10$ ) predicted by XRB synthesis modeling, and we will detect at least half of them in the X-rays. The spectroscopic capabilities of the OST can provide ${\approx}51\,000$ and ${\approx}3\,400$ AGN spectra with $R= 300$ at 25–588 $\unicode[Times]{x03BC}$ m in the wide and deep surveys, respectively, the last one up to $z\approx 4$ . Athena will be extremely powerful in detecting and discerning moderate- and high-luminosity AGN, allowing us to properly select AGN even when the mid-IR torus emission is ‘hidden’ by the host galaxy contribution. We will constrain the intrinsic luminosity and the amount of obscuration for $\sim\!20\%$ of all the AGN (and $\sim\!50\%$ of those with $L_{2-10\text{keV}} > 3.2 \times 10^{43}\,\mathrm{erg\ s}^{-1}$ ) using the X-ray spectra provided by Athena WFI. We find that the most obscured and elusive CT-AGN will be exquisitely sampled by SPICA-like mission or OST and that Athena will allow a fine characterisation of the most luminous ones. This will provide a significant step forward in the process of placing stronger constraints on the yet-unresolved XRB and investigating the BH accretion rate evolution up to very high redshift ( $z \ge 4$ ).

An unresolved X-ray emission extends along the Galactic plane, so-called the Galactic diffuse X-ray emission (GDXE). The characteristic feature is three K-shell lines of Fe at 6.4, 6.7, and 6.9 keV. Recently, superposition of faint point sources, such as Cataclysmic variables (CVs) and Active binaries (ABs) is thought to be a major origin, although it is under debate which sub-class mostly contribute. We re-analyzed the Suzaku archive data and constructed spectral models of ABs, magnetic CVs (mCVs), and non-magnetic CVs (non-mCVs). The GBXE is explained by combination of those models; non-mCVs and ABs mainly contribute while mCVs account for ~10% or less of the 5–10 keV flux. On the other hand, the GCXE and GRXE spectra cannot be represented by any combination of the point sources, indicating another origin would be required.

X-ray surveys provide us with one of the least biased samples of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) against obscuration. Here we present the most up-to-date AGN X-ray luminosity function (XLF) and absorption function over the redshift range from 0 to 5, using the largest, highly complete sample ever available obtained from surveys of various depth, depth, and energy bands. We utilize a maximum likelihood method to reproduce the count-rate versus redshift distribution for each survey, by taking into account the evolution of the absorbed fraction, contribution from Compton-thick AGNs, and AGN broad band X-ray spectra including reflection components from tori based on the luminosity and redshift dependent unified scheme. We find that the shape of the XLF at z ~ 1–3 is significantly different from that in the local universe, for which the luminosity dependent density evolution (LDDE) model gives the best description. These results establish the standard population synthesis model of the X-Ray Background (XRB), which well reproduces the source counts in both soft and hard bands, the observed fractions of Compton-thick AGNs, and the spectrum of the XRB.

In order to fully understand galaxy formation we need to know when in the cosmic history are supermassive black holes (SMBHs) growing more intensively, in what type of galaxies this growth is happening and what fraction of these sources are invisible at most wavelengths due to obscuration. Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) population synthesis models that can explain the spectral shape and intensity of the cosmic X-ray background (CXRB) indicate that most of the SMBH growth occurs in moderate-luminosity (LX~ 1044 erg/s) sources (Seyfert-type AGN), at z~ 0.5−1 and in heavily obscured but Compton-thin, NH~ 1023cm−2, systems. However, this is not the complete history, as a large fraction of black hole growth does not emit significantly in X-rays either due to obscuration, intrinsic low luminosities or large distances. The integrated intensity at high energies indicates that a significant fraction of the total black hole growth, 22%, occurs in heavily-obscured systems that are not individually detected in even the deepest X-ray observations. We further investigate the AGN triggering mechanism as a function of bolometric luminosity, finding evidence for a strong connection between significant black hole growth events and major galaxy mergers from z~ 0 to z~ 3, while less spectacular but longer accretion episodes are most likely due to other (stochastic) processes. AGN activity triggered by major galaxies is responsible for ~60% of the total black hole growth. Finally, we constrain the total accreted mass density in supermassive black holes at z > 6, inferred via the upper limit derived from the integrated X-ray emission from a sample of photometrically selected galaxy candidates. We estimate an accreted mass density <1000 M⊙Mpc−3 at z~ 6, significantly lower than the previous predictions from some existing models of early black hole growth and earlier prior observations.

The distribution of baryons beyond galaxies is descibed. The majority of the baryons, which represent 4% of the cosmic mass and energy budget, lie far from individual galaxies in the diffuse intergalactic medium (IGM). Many of these baryons are in a warm phase that can be probed by quasar absorption in the Lyman-α line of hydrogen. The mature field of quasar spectroscopy can diagnose the location, physical state, metallicity, and general geometry of this gas, which is called the “cosmic web.” The remainder of the gas is kept very hot by infall and shocks and is mostly in higher density regions such as filaments, groups and clusters. The hot gas is only detectable via X-rays and the absorption of highly ionized species of heavy elements. The baryons in low density regions of space are excellent tracers of underlying dark matter. The evolution of the cosmic web indicates where to look for the baryons in collapsed objects but the overall inefficiency of galaxy formation has conspired to keep most baryons dark.

I discuss the constraints that can be derived on the abundance of high redshift (z>6) (mini)quasars from the unresolved soft X-Ray background. Furthermore, I will show how existing Lyα surveys can be used to probe the very faint MB≳-21 mag (i.e., ≳7–8 mag fainter than the SDSS quasars) end of the z≥,4.5 quasar luminosity function.

Deep field observations are an essential tool to probe the cosmological evolution of galaxies. In this context, X-ray deep fields provide information about some of the most energetic cosmological objects: active galactic nuclei (AGN). Astronomers are interested in detecting sufficient numbers of AGN to probe the accretion history at high redshift. This talk gives an overview of the knowledge resulting from a highly complete soft X-ray selected sample collected with ROSAT, XMM–Newton and Chandra deep fields. The principal outcome based on X-ray luminosity functions and space density evolution studies is that low–luminosity AGN evolve in a dramatically different way from high–luminosity AGN: The most luminous quasars perform at significantly earlier cosmic times and are most numerous in a unit volume at cosmological redshift $z\sim2$. In contrast, low–luminosity AGN evolve later and their space density peaks at $z\sim 0.7$. This finding is also interpreted as an anti–hierarchical growth of supermassive black holes in the Universe. Comparing this with star formation rate history studies one concludes that supermassive black holes enter the cosmic stage before the bulk of the first stars. Therefore, first solutions of the so-called hen–egg problem are suggested. Finally, status developments and expectations of ongoing and future extended observations such as the XMM–COSMOS project are highlighted.

This paper reviews the nature of normal and starburst galaxies in deep X-ray surveys, focusing on the observational issues. Normal and starburst galaxies may be divided from AGN via X-ray/optical flux ratios, optical spectroscopic identification, hardness ratio, and X-ray luminosity. Each of these is discussed, including the possible impact on derived X-ray-Star Formation Rate (X-ray/SFR) correlations. The measured differences in the normal galaxy X-ray Luminosity Functions (XLFs) by SED type at $z\approx0.3$–1.0 are also described.

The redshift frontiers of deep X-ray surveys are discussed, including those for individually detected accreting binary systems (Ultraluminous X-ray Sources at $z\approx0.1$–0.3) and that for the highest-redshift X-ray detection of star formation (stacking analyses of Lyman Break Galaxies to $z\approx4$). The paper closes with a discussion of normal galaxy studies with future X-ray missions such as Constellation-X, XEUS, and Generation-X.