The ultra-luminous infra red galaxies (ULIRGs) have an enhanced starburst rate which might be related to a large emission of very high energy gamma rays. Arp 220 is the nearest ULIRG (72 Mpc) and a well studied object. This source was observed with the stand alone imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope MAGIC for more than 15 hours on-source. No significant gamma ray excess was detected during the observations. The first upper limits to the very high energy gamma ray flux were obtained, with an analysis energy threshold of 160 GeV. The analysis results will be reported and compared to theoretical expectations.

MAGIC

Proceedings of the 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference; Rogelio Caballero, Juan Carlos D'Olivo, Gustavo Medina-Tanco, Lukas Nellen, Federico A. Sánchez, José F. Valdés-Galicia (eds.); Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico, 2008; Vol. 3 (OG part 2), pages 1097-1100