Radio-X-ray sources in the HDF(N) region.

The 1.4-GHz detections are all resolved at 0.2-2arcsec resolution. The radio emission was classified using the source morphologies and radio spectral indices; optical and IR information was used as supporting evidence only. On this basis, starbursts outnumber radio AGN 3:1.

The high-redshift starbursts have typical sizes of 5-10kpc and star formation rates of around 1000 Msun/yr, an order of magnitude more extended and intense than in the local universe. The X-ray sources are unresolved but their luminosity and spectral indices allows X-ray AGN and obscured (Type II) AGN to be identified (2004A&A...424..545P). In this way, we can distinguish between the origins of radio and X-ray emission from the same object.

There is no obvious correlation between radio and X-ray luminosities nor spectral indices at z>1.3. About 70% of both the radio-selected AGN and the starburst samples were detected by Chandra. The X-ray luminosity indicates the presence of an AGN in at least half of the 45 cross-matched radio starbursts.

Eleven of these are type-II AGN, of which 7 are at z>1.5. This distribution overlaps closely with the X-ray detected radio sources which were also detected by SCUBA. Almost all extended radio starbursts at z>1.3 host X-ray selected obscured AGN.

The radio emission from most of these ultra-luminous objects is dominated by star formation although the highest redshift (z=4.424) source has a substantial AGN contribution. Star-formation appears to contribute less than 1/3 of their X-ray luminosity. Our results support the inferences from SCUBA and IR data, that at z>1.5, star formation is observably more extended and more copious, it is closely linked to AGN activity and it is triggered differently, compared with star formation at lower redshifts.