We present the first results from BAYMAX ( Bayesian AnalYsis of Multiple AGN in X-rays ) , a tool that uses a Bayesian framework to quantitatively evaluate whether a given Chandra observation is more likely a single or dual point source .
Although the most robust method of determining the presence of dual AGNs is to use X-ray observations , only sources that are widely separated relative to the instrument PSF are easy to identify .
It becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish dual AGNs from single AGNs when the separation is on the order of Chandra ’ s angular resolution ( < 1 \arcsec ) .
Using likelihood models for single and dual point sources , BAYMAX quantitatively evaluates the likelihood of an AGN for a given source .
Specifically , we present results from BAYMAX analyzing the lowest-mass dual AGN candidate to date , SDSS J0914+0853 , where archival Chandra data shows a possible secondary AGN \sim 0 \farcs { 3 } from the primary .
Analyzing a new 50 ks Chandra observation , results from BAYMAX shows that SDSS J0914+0853 is most likely a single AGN with a Bayes factor of 13.5 in favor of a single point source model .
Further , posterior distributions from the dual point source model are consistent with emission from a single AGN .
We find the probability of SDSS J0914+0853 being a dual AGN system with a flux ratio f > 0.3 and separation r > 0 \farcs { 3 } to be very low .
Overall , BAYMAX will be an important tool for correctly classifying candidate dual AGNs in the literature , and studying the dual AGN population where past spatial resolution limits have prevented systematic analyses .