0320110

Observations of the X-ray background strongly suggest that there should be a large number of highly obscured AGN in the local Universe. However the exact number and space density of these objects remains unknown even though they may nearly double the space density of supermassive black holes. These Compton-thick AGN will be easily detected by INTEGRAL. We propose very deep (3 Msec) INTEGRAL observations of the XMM-LSS field which will provide a complete view of the highly obscured AGN population in the local Universe. The combination of INTEGRAL high-energy coverage with XMMs excellent X-ray spectral and spatial resolution allows for essential multiwavelength follow up of these sources providing unprecedented information on NH redshifts bolometric luminosities etc. for Compton-thick AGN. Together with the existing XMM GALEX Spitzer and VLA data the INTEGRAL observations will make this by far the best field in the sky to obtain a complete sample of Compton-thick AGN in the local Universe leading to a solution of the long-standing X-ray background problem and a full understanding of the demographics of black holes. [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]