Radcliffe, Jack FrederickBarthe, P.D.Garrett, M.A.Beswick, R.J.Thomson, A.P.Muxlow, T.W.B.2021-08-302021-08-302021-05Radclif, J.F., Barthe, P.D., Garrett, M.A. et al. 2020, 'The radio emission from active galactic nuclei', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 649, L9, PP. 1-5.0004-6361 (print)1432-0746 (online)10.1051/0004-6361/202140791http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81529CONTEXT: For nearly seven decades, astronomers have been studying active galaxies, that is to say, galaxies with actively accreting central supermassive black holes: active galactic nuclei (AGN). A small fraction are characterized by luminous, powerful radio emission: This class is known as radio-loud AGN. A substantial fraction, the so-called radio-quiet AGN population, display intermediate or weak radio emission. However, an appreciable fraction of strong X-ray-emitting AGN are characterized by the absence of radio emission, down to an upper limit of about 10−7 times the luminosity of the most powerful radio-loud AGN. AIMS: We wish to address the nature of these – seemingly radio-silent – X-ray-luminous AGN and their host galaxies to determine if there is any radio emission, and, if so, where it originates. METHODS: Focusing on the GOODS-N field, we examine the nature of these objects, employing stacking techniques on ultra-deep radio data obtained with the JVLA. We combine these radio data with Spitzer far-infrared data. RESULTS: We establish the absence, or totally insignificant contribution, of jet-driven radio emission in roughly half of the otherwise normal population of X-ray-luminous AGN, which appear to reside in normal star-forming galaxies. Conclusions. AGN- or jet-driven radio emission is simply a mechanism that may be at work or may be dormant in galaxies with actively accreting black holes. The latter cases can be classified as radio-silent AGN.en© ESO 2021Galaxies: activeGalaxies: jetsRadio continuum: galaxiesX-rays: galaxiesActive galactic nuclei (AGN)Article