The Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) survey is currently underway using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope. This survey will catalogue up to 40 million sources, including high-z starbursts, normal star-forming galaxies, and active galactic nuclei (AGN). ASKAP has excellent surface brightness sensitivity, but its resolution limits its ability to investigate small-scale structures within sources, where much of the underlying physics can be revealed.
We propose the EMU-VLBI pilot survey, a preparatory 48hr study of some high-interest targets that will allow us to prepare, scientifically and technically, for a future large programme that will eventually target thousands of high-value EMU sources.
For this pilot survey, we will target eight high-value galaxy clusters. High-resolution observations will allow us to understand how jets in central cluster galaxies could suppress star formation, while other radio sources in the cluster could allow us to infer new insights into AGN triggering and the radio-galaxy life cycle.
This survey is unique and will use the wide-field VLBI technique to target all sources within the primary beam, enhancing the legacy value of this proposal. This will allow us to cover further scientific aspects that include AGN identification, AGN-star-formation feedback, the role of radio emission in radio-quiet AGN, and the identification of other rare objects such as binary supermassive black holes and gravitational lenses.
