e-MERLIN observations at 5 GHz of the GOODS-N region: pinpointing AGN cores in high-redshift galaxies

We present 5 GHz e-Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) observations of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Surveys North (GOODS)-N region at sub-arcsec resolution (0.2-0.5 arcsec). These data form part of the early commissioning observations for the e-MERLIN interferometer...

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Published inMonthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 432; no. 4; pp. 2798 - 2807
Main Authors Guidetti, D., Bondi, M., Prandoni, I., Beswick, R. J., Muxlow, T. W. B., Wrigley, N., Smail, I., McHardy, I.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Oxford University Press 11.07.2013
Subjects
Astrophysics
Information
Morphology
Radio telescopes
Space telescopes
Star & galaxy formation
galaxies: starburst
cosmology: observations
galaxies: active
galaxies: evolution
radio continuum: galaxies
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Summary:We present 5 GHz e-Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) observations of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Surveys North (GOODS)-N region at sub-arcsec resolution (0.2-0.5 arcsec). These data form part of the early commissioning observations for the e-MERLIN interferometer and a pilot for the e-MERLIN legacy programme e-MERLIN Galaxy Evolution Survey (eMERGE). A total of 17 sources were detected with S/N > 3. These observations provide unique information on the radio source morphology at sub-arcsec scales. For twelve of these sources, deeper 1.4 GHz MERLIN+Very Large Array observations at the same spatial resolution are available, allowing radio spectral indices to be derived for 10 sources on sub-arcsec angular scales. Via analysis of the spectral indices and radio morphologies, these sources have been identified as active galactic nucleus (AGN) cores in moderate-to-high-redshift (1 < z < 4) galaxies. These results have provided AGN (or AGN-candidate) classification for six previously unclassified sources and confirmed the AGN nature of the rest of the sample. Ultimately, the eMERGE project will image the GOODS-N region at 1.4 and 5 GHz with higher resolution (about 50 mas at 5 GHz) and down to sub-μJy sensitivities. The unique combination of sensitivity and spatial resolution will be exploited to study star formation and AGN activity in distant galaxies.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stt633