Radio image of Luminous Infrared Galaxies

We used the archival data at 1.49 and 8.44GHz to create radio-spectral-index maps using the standard relation between flux density S{nu} and frequency {nu}, S{nu}~{nu}^-{alpha}^, where {alpha} is the radio spectral index. By studying the spatial variations in {alpha}, we classified the objects as radio-AGN, radio-SB, and AGN/SB (a mixture). We identified the presence of an active nucleus using the radio morphology, deviations from the radio/infrared correlation, and spatially resolved spectral index maps, and then correlated this to the usual mid-infrared ([NeV]/[NeII] and [OIV]/[NeII] line ratios and equivalent width of the 6.2um PAH feature) and optical (BPT diagram) AGN diagnostics.

We find that 21 out of the 46 objects in our sample (~45%) are radio-AGN, 9 out of the 46 (~20%) are classified as starbursts (SB) based on the radio analysis, and 16 (~35%) are AGN/SB. After comparing to other AGN diagnostics we find 3 objects out of the 46 (~7%) that are identified as AGN based on the radio analysis, but are not classified as such based on the mid-infrared and optical AGN diagnostics presented in this study.