Abstract: The Chandra Deep Fields (CDFs), being a major thrust among extragalactic X-ray surveys and complemented effectively by multiwavelength observations, have critically contributed to our dramatically improved characterization of the 0.5-8 keV cosmic X-ray background sources, the vast majority of which are distant active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and starburst and normal galaxies. In this talk, I highlight some recent key observational results, mostly from the CDFs, on the AGN demography (focusing on the highly-obscured and Compton-thick subpopulation that will be the main content of this talk), the interactions between AGNs and their host galaxies, the evolution of non-active galaxy X-ray emission, and the census of X-ray galaxy groups and clusters through cosmic time, after providing the necessary background information. I then conclude by summarizing some significant open questions and discussing future prospects for moving forward.

 

Bio: Yongquan Xue received his BSc. in July 2000 and MSc. in July 2003 from Peking University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Purdue University in May 2008 and subsequently worked as a postdoc at the Pennsylvania State University. In February 2012 he was selected by the Thousand Young Talents Plan of China; and since May 2012 he has been a professor in the Department of Astronomy at University of Science and Technology of China. As a core member of the Chandra Deep Fields team, he utilizes deep multiwavelength (radio through X-ray) surveys to study AGN demography, physics, feedback, and evolution, as well as coeval growth and coevolution of galaxies and their central supermassive black holes.