Multiwavelength radio observations of the compact starburst in Arp 220
Paper in proceeding, 2006

We report the first detection at multiple radio wavelengths (13, 6, and 3.6 cm) of 18 compact sources within both nuclei of the Ultra Luminous Infra-Red Galaxy (ULIRG) Arp 220. In just over half of the sources we find that the observed spectra are consistent with the standard model of powerful Type IIn supernovae interacting with their pre-explosion stellar wind. The rate of appearance of new radio sources ascribed to these supernova events suggests that a large fraction of core-collapse supernovae in Arp 220 are highly luminous, possibly implying a radically different stellar initial mass function (IMF) or stellar evolution compared to galactic disks. A second group of sources, consisting of the brightest and longest monitored sources at 18 cm, do not easily fit the radio supernova model. We propose that these are young supernova remnants that have just begun interacting with their surrounding dense ISM.

Author

Rodrigo Parra Barraza

Onsala Space Observatory

John Conway

Onsala Space Observatory

P. J. Diamond

Jodrell Bank Observatory

Hannah Thrall

Jodrell Bank Observatory

Colin Lonsdale

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Carol Lonsdale

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Harding E. Smith

University of California

Proceedings of Science

18248039 (eISSN)

Vol. 36 033

8th European VLBI Network Symposium, EVN 2006
Torun, Poland,

Subject Categories

Subatomic Physics

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

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