185 bright XMM-CDFS sources spectral properties

Using the XMM-Newton data alone, seven Compton-thick AGN candidates are identified, which makes the Compton-thick AGN fraction to be ~=4%. An exploratory spectral inspection method with two rest-frame X-ray colours and an Fe line strength indicator is introduced and tested against the results from spectral fitting. This method works reasonably well to characterise a spectral shape and can be useful for a pre-selection of Compton-thick AGN candidates.We found six objects exhibiting broad Fe K lines out of 21 unobscured AGN of best data quality, implying a detection rate of 30%.

Five redshift spikes, each of which has more than six sources, are identified in the redshift distribution of the X-ray sources. Contrary to the overall trend, the sources at the two higher-redshift spikes at z=1.61 and z=2.57 have puzzlingly low obscuration.