BU024

The Possible AGN in NGC 3690 System

Abstract

We propose a single epoch of 13-cm VLBI on component A of the NGC 3690 merger system, using the VLBA and the GBT. This merger contains several compact radio components sjpread over approximately 20 arcseconds, including two strong nuclei separated by about 5 kpc. Mergers such as NGC 3690 are generally thought to be progenitors of active galactic nuclei (GANs), although the process is not yet well understood. Component A, the nucleus of one of the merging galaxies, contains ~ 100 mJy at 20 cm in the A configuration of the VLA, but only 1.3-1.5 mJy on the long VLA-Effelsberg VLBI baseline. We wish to image component A on VLBI scales to determine whether an AGN contributing 1% - 2% of its radio luminosity is already present at the very early merger stage, or if its entire radio poser is attributable to star formation. Use of the GBT also may enable detection of a number of young supernovae, and measurements of limits on their sizes.

**Investigators**
Name	Other *	Institution	Email	Phone
James Ulvestad	PI	NRAO
Stacy Teng		University of Maryland
Susan Neff		GSFC	neff@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov	301 286-5137

* PI = Principal Investigator; T = Thesis observations; S = Student

Front Ends

Gregorian S(1.73 to 2.6 GHz)

Back Ends

VLBA recorder and DAR

Type of Observing

Very Long Baseline Interferometry

Switching Type

Allocated time: 10.00 hours.

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