The Wide-field infrared survey explorer view of the disc-torus connection in z ~ 0.6 active galactic nuclei

Abstract

We selected all radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the latest release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasar catalogue, with redshift in the range 0.56-0.73. About 4000 (~80 per cent) of these have been detected in all four infrared bands of Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). This is the largest sample suitable to study the disc-torus connection. We find that the torus reprocesses on average ~1/3-1/2 of the accretion disc luminosity. © 2012 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2012 RAS.