The active galactic nuclei contribution to the mid-infrared emission of luminous infrared galaxies

We determine the contribution of AGN to the mid-IR emission of luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) at z > 0.6 by measuring the mid-IR dust continuum slope of 20,039 mid-IR sources. The 24 μm sources are selected from a Spitzer MIPS survey of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey Boötes field and have corresponding 8 μm data from the IRAC Shallow Survey. There is a clear bimodal distribution in the 24 to 8 μm flux ratio. The X-ray-detected sources fall within the peak corresponding to a flat spectrum in vf _v, implying that it is populated by AGN-dominated LIRGs, whereas the peak corresponding to a higher 24 to 8 μm flux ratio is likely due to LIRGs whose IR emission is powered by starbursts. The 24 μm emission is increasingly dominated by AGN at higher 24 μm flux densities (f ₂₄): the AGN fraction of the z > 0.6 sources increases from 9% at f₂₄ ≈ 0.35 mJy to 74% ±20% at f₂₄ ≈ 3 mJy, in good agreement with model predictions. Deep 24 μm, small-area surveys, like GOODS, will be strongly dominated by starburst galaxies. AGN are responsible for ∼3%-7% of the total 24 μm background.