A COMPLETE CENSUS OF THE COMPTON-THICK AGN POPULATION IN OUR COSMIC BACKYARD

We propose for a total of 150 ks NuSTAR and 30 ks XMMNewton observations tocharacterise the intrinsic power and obscuring properties of four of the nearestactive galactic nuclei (AGN) to us. We are carrying out the first complete anddirect measurement of the column density (N H) distribution of AGN in a localvolumelimited (D < 15 Mpc) AGN survey using primarily NuSTAR. Prior to ourprogram, only 50% of the AGN had reliable obscuration measurements. We haverecently improved this to 75%, and found a Comptonthick AGN fraction of atleast 30%. This is higher than that directly measured in fluxlimited AGNsamples. NuSTAR observations of these four targets will be crucial in bringingthe local N H distribution of AGN to 100% completeness. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]