This research project aims to investigate the role of galaxy mergers in the evolution of galaxies with a focus on dual AGN.
Numerical simulations and theoretical arguments suggest that the disruption of angular momentum in galaxies due to mergers results in enhanced star formation and accretion of gas onto the nuclear black hole. Supporting evidence for this theory has been presented at optical and near-infrared wavelengths as they show that AGN mergers can result in an increase in relatively low-luminosity AGN \cite{Koss_2012,Ellison_2011}. The aim is to test if this holds for radio emission as well.
Observations in the radio frequency range are superior as they are immune to dust obscuration within galactic nuclei which biases the statistical inferences of surveys at other wavelengths.
This project will use the statistical power of large-area optical and radio surveys to systematically measure the enhanced radio emission in merging galaxies in the low redshift Universe \((z < 0.4)\).