Landing page for project GV025

We propose 12h of global phase-referenced 6 cm continuum VLBI observations of the extremely dust enshrouded luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) IC860. We aim to detect, or put significant upper limits on, the existence of a star-formation induced population of compact radio supernovae (SNe) and supernova remnants (SNRs), and/or AGN radio jet structures in the galaxy nucleus. We also aim to improve the astrometry of the known VLBI detection in IC860. The nucleus of IC860 may represent a new class of extreme Compton thick (CT) AGNs - hitherto undiscovered in AGN surveys - where its opaque nucleus is in a state of rapid growth and the buried activity would be missed by both X-ray and mid-IR surveys. The emission may also be powered by a compact starburst, where SNe/SNRs can be detected on milliarcsecond scales. A mix between AGN and starburst is also possible. For a complete AGN census, and the understanding of the starburst-AGN connection, it is fundamental to understand the nature of these extremely buried nuclei. This is a revised re-submission of GV024, taking account the constructive comments from the previous EVN PC evaluation.

This data is part of the archive of VLBI data maintained by JIVE on behalf of the EVN, a network of radio telescopes located primarily in Europe and Asia, with additional antennas in South Africa. The EVN archive itself has the DOI https://doi.org/10.17616/R3Z197