A deep 800-μm continuum observation of the active galaxy Mkn 1183

We present a highly sensitive submillimetre continuum observation of Mkn 1183. The 800-μm detection requires thermal processes to be dominant in the far-infrared and submillimetre region. Dust emission at a temperature of 41 K, with a spectral emissivity proportional to frequency squared, provides an excellent fit to the data from 60-1300 μm. A total gas mass of 1.3 x 108 solar masses is calculated from the submillimetre data and is found to lie within the central 1.5 kpc of the galaxy. The form of the energy distribution and similarity of a number of physical parameters suggest that Mkn 1183 is an efficient nuclear starburst galaxy, similar to M82. (author)