Context. Recent XMM-Newton observations have revealed that IRAS 17020+4544 is a very unusual example of black hole wind-produced feedback by a moderately luminous AGN in a spiral galaxy.
Aims: Since the source is known to be a radio emitter, we investigated the presence and the properties of a non-thermal component.
Methods: We observed IRAS 17020+4544 with the Very Long Baseline Array at 5, 8, 15, and 24 GHz within a month of the 2014 XMM-Newton observations. We further analysed archival data taken in 2000 and 2012.
Results: We detect the source at 5 GHz and on short baselines at 8 GHz. At 15 and 24 GHz, the source is below our baseline sensitivity for fringe fitting, indicating a lack of prominent compact features. The morphology is that of an asymmetric double, with significant diffuse emission. The spectrum between 5 and 8 GHz is rather steep (S(ν) ν– (1.0 ± 0.2)). Our reanalysis of the archival data at 5 and 8 GHz provides results consistent with the new observations, suggesting that flux density and structural variability are not important in this source. We put a limit on the separation speed between the main components of <0.06c.
Conclusions: IRAS 17020+4544 shows interesting features of several classes of objects: its properties are typical of compact steep spectrum sources, low power compact sources, and radio-emitting narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies. However, it cannot be classified in any of these categories, and remains a one-of-a-kind object.
