GP053

Deep VLBI observations of the star-bursting regions in Arp 299

Abstract

We propose one epoch of global VLBI observations at 3.6cm, 6cm and 18cm to study the
structure and spectral properties of the compact sources in the star-bursting regions of the
luminous infra-red galaxy (LIRG) Arp 299 with unprecedented sensitivity and spatial
resolution. We also request two additional epochs of 6cm EVN-only observations to keep the
cadence of our 6cm VLBI monitoring at about one observing epoch every four months. Our
proposed sensitive, contemporaneous, multi-wavelength global VLBI observations will allow
us to probe the luminosity function of supernovae (SNe) and supernova remnants (SNRs) in
Arp 299A down to very low luminosities, and therefore will lead to new, previously undetected
SNe/SNRs. By estimating their source sizes thanks to the unprecedented resolution and
sensitivity provided by the global VLBI array, we will be able to characterize the luminositydiameter
relation from the brightest end down to the low-luminosity source population of Arp
299. Arp 299A seems to be the only nearby LIRG where such studies can be successfully
carried out, apart from the ULIRG Arp 220, and therefore offers an unique opportunity to shed
light on the relevant theoretical issue of models of SNR evolution.

Investigators

Name	Institution
John Conway	Chalmers University Of Technology
Cristina Romero-Canizales	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Matias Vidal	Chile, Universidad de; Manchester, University of
Marco Bondi	Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
Antonio Alberdi	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Miguel Perez-Torres *	Andalucía, Instituto de Astrofísica de

* indicates the PI