e-MERLIN observations at 5 GHz of the GOODS-N region: pinpointing AGN
  cores in high redshift galaxies
  We present 5 GHz e-MERLIN observations of the GOODS-N region at sub-arcsec
resolution (0.2--0.5 arcsec). These data form part of the early commissioning
observations for the e-MERLIN interferometer and a pilot for the e-MERLIN
legacy program eMERGE. A total of 17 sources were detected with S/N>3. These
observations provide unique information on the radio source morphology at
sub-arcsec scales. For twelve of these sources, deeper 1.4 GHz MERLIN+VLA
observations at the same spatial resolution are available, allowing radio
spectral indices to be derived for ten sources on sub-arcsec angular scales.
Via analysis of the spectral indices and radio morphologies, these sources have
been identified as AGN cores in moderate-to-high redshift (1<z<4) galaxies.
These results have provided AGN (or AGN candidate) classification for six
previously unclassified sources and confirmed the AGN nature of the rest of the
sample. Ultimately the eMERGE project will image the GOODS-N region at 1.4 and
5 GHz with higher resolution (about 50 mas at 5 GHz) and down to sub-microJy
sensitivities. The unique combination of sensitivity and spatial resolution
will be exploited to study star formation and AGN activity in distant galaxies.
