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For the first time, the helium abundance relative to hydrogen (He/H), which relied on direct measurements of the electron temperature, has been derived in the narrow line regions (NLRs) from a local sample of Seyfert 2 nuclei. In view of this, optical emission line intensities [3000 < λ(Å)

We derive the metallicity (traced by the O/H abundance) of the narrow-line region (NLR) of 108 Seyfert galaxies as well as radial metallicity gradients along their galaxy discs and of these of a matched control sample of no active galaxies. In view of that, observational data from the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey and strong emission-line calibrations taken from the literature were considered. The metallicity obtained for the NLRs was compared to the value derived from the extrapolation of the radial oxygen abundance gradient, obtained from H II region estimates along the galaxy disc, to the central part of the host galaxies. We find that, for most of the objects (∼ 80 per cent), the NLR metallicity is lower than the extrapolated value, with the average difference ( D ) between these estimates ranging from 0.16 to 0.30 dex. We suggest that D is due to the accretion of metal-poor gas to the AGN that feeds the nuclear supermassive black hole (SMBH), which is drawn from a reservoir molecular and/or neutral hydrogen around the SMBH. Additionally, we look for correlations between D and the electron density (Ne), [O III]λ5007, and H α luminosities, extinction coefficient (AV) of the NLRs, as well as the stellar mass (M∗) of the host galaxies. Evidence of an inverse correlation between the D and the parameters Ne, M∗, and Av was found.

We use Gemini Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) adaptive optics assisted data cubes to map the stellar population of the inner few hundred parsec of a sample of 18 nearby Seyfert galaxies. The near-infrared light is dominated by the contribution of young to intermediate-age stellar populations, with light-weighted mean ages ‹t›L ≲ 1.5 Gyr. Hot dust (HD) emission is centrally peaked (in the unresolved nucleus), but it is also needed to reproduce the continuum beyond the nucleus in nearly half of the sample. We have analysed the stellar population properties of the nuclear region and their relation with more global properties of the galaxies. We find a correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the contributions from the HD, featureless continuum (FC), and reddening AV. We attribute these correlations to the fact that all these properties are linked to the mass accretion rate to the active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We also find a correlation of the bolometric luminosity log(LBolobs) with the mass-weighted mean age of the stellar population, interpreted as due a delay between the formation of new stars and the triggering/feeding of the AGN. The gas reaching the supermassive black hole is probably originated from mass loss from the already somewhat evolved intermediate-age stellar population (‹t›L ≲ 1.5 Gyr). In summary, our results show that there is a significant fraction of young to intermediate-age stellar populations in the inner few 100 pc of active galaxies, suggesting that this region is facing a rejuvenation process in which the AGN, once triggered, precludes further star formation, in the sense that it can be associated with the lack of new star formation in the nuclear region.

Context. Feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in general seems to play an important role in the evolution of galaxies, although the impact of AGN winds on their host galaxies is still unknown in the absence of a detailed analysis. Aims. We aim to analyse the kinematics of a sample of 170 AGN host galaxies as compared to those of a matched control sample of non-active galaxies from the MaNGA survey in order to characterise and estimate the extents of the narrow-line region (NLR) and of the kinematically disturbed region (KDR) by the AGN. Methods. We defined the observed NLR radius (rNLR,o) as the farthest distance from the nucleus within which both [O iii]/Hβ and [N ii]/Hα ratios fall in the AGN region of the BPT diagram, and the Hα equivalent width was required to be larger than 3.0 Å. The extent of the KDR (rKDR,o) is defined as the distance from the nucleus within which the AGN host galaxies show a more disturbed gas kinematics than the control galaxies. Results. The AGN [O iii]λ5007 luminosity ranges from 1039 to 1041 erg s−1 , and the kinematics derived from the [O iii] line profiles reveal that, on average, the most luminous AGNs (L[O iii] > 3.8×1040 erg s−1 ) possess higher residual differences between the gaseous and stellar velocities and velocitie dispersions than their control galaxies in all the radial bins. Spatially resolved NLRs and KDRs were found in 55 and 46 AGN host galaxies, with corrected radii 0.2 < rKDR,c < 2.3 kpc and 0.4 < rNLR,c < 10.1 kpc and a relation between the two given by log rKDR,c = (0.53 ± 0.12) log rNLR,c + (1.07 ± 0.22), respectively. On average, the extension of the KDR corresponds to about 30% of that of the NLR. Assuming that the KDR is due to an AGN outflow, we have estimated ionised gas mass outflow rates that range between 10−5 and ∼1 M yr−1 , and kinetic powers that range from 1034 to 1040 erg s−1 . Conclusions. Comparing the power of the AGN ionised outflows with the AGN luminosities, they are always below the 0.05 LAGN model threshold for having an important feedback effect on their respective host galaxies. The mass outflow rates (and power) of our AGN sample correlate with their luminosities, populating the lowest AGN luminosity range of the correlations previously found for more powerful sources.

We study the gas distribution and kinematics of the inner kpc of six moderately luminous (43.43 ≤ log Lbol ≤ 44.83) nearby (0.004 ≤ z ≤ 0.014) Seyfert galaxies observed with the Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) in the J (⁠1.25μm) and K (⁠2.2μm) bands. We analyse the most intense emission lines detected on these spectral wavebands: [Fe ii] 1.2570μm and Paβ, which trace the ionized gas in the partially and fully ionized regions, and H2 2.1218μm, which traces the hot (∼2000 K) molecular gas. The dominant kinematic component is rotation in the disc of the galaxies, except for the ionized gas in NGC 5899 that shows only weak signatures of a disc component. We find ionized gas outflow in four galaxies, while signatures of H2 outflows are seen in three galaxies. The ionized gas outflows display velocities of a few hundred km s−1, and their mass outflow rates are in the range 0.005–12.49 M⊙ yr−1. Their kinetic powers correspond to 0.005–0.7 per cent of the active galactic nuclei (AGN) bolometric luminosities. Besides rotation and outflows signatures in some cases, the H2 kinematics also reveals inflows in three galaxies. The inflow velocities are 50–80 km s−1 and the mass inflow rates are in the range 1–9 × 10−4 M⊙ yr−1 for hot molecular gas. These inflows might be only the hot skin of the total inflowing gas, which is expected to be dominated by colder gas. The mass inflow rates are lower than the current accretion rates to the AGN, and the ionized outflows are apparently disturbing the gas in the inner kpc.

In modern models and simulations of galactic evolution, the star formation in massive galaxies is regulated by an ad hoc active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback process. However, the physics and the extension of such effects on the star formation history of galaxies is matter of vivid debate. In order to shed some light in the AGN effects over the star formation, we analysed the inner 500 × 500 pc of a sample of 14 Seyfert galaxies using GMOS and MUSE integral field spectroscopy. We fitted the continuum spectra in order to derive stellar age, metallicity, velocity, and velocity dispersion maps in each source. After stacking our sample and averaging their properties, we found that the contribution of young SP, as well as that of AGN featureless continuum both peak at the nucleus. The fraction of intermediate-age SPs is smaller in the nucleus if compared to outer regions, and the contribution of old SPs vary very little within our field of view (FoV). We also found no variation of velocity dispersion or metallicity within our FoV. Lastly, we detected an increase in the dust reddening towards the center of the galaxies. These results lead us to conclude that AGN phenomenon is usually related to a recent star formation episode in the circumnuclear region.

The merger remnant NGC 34 is a local luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) hosting a nuclear starburst and a hard X-ray source associated with a putative, obscured Seyfert 2 nucleus. In this work, we use adaptive optics assisted near-infrared (NIR) integral field unit observations of this galaxy to map the distribution and kinematics of the ionized and molecular gas in its inner 1.2kpc×1.2kpc⁠, with a spatial resolution of 70 pc. The molecular and ionized gas kinematics is consistent with a disc with projected major axis along a mean PA = −9∘.2 ± 0∘.9. Our main findings are that NGC 34 hosts an AGN and that the nuclear starburst is distributed in a circumnuclear star formation ring with inner and outer radii of ≈ 60 and 180 pc, respectively, as revealed by maps of the [FeII]/Paβ and H2/Br γ emission-line ratios, and corroborated by PCA tomography analysis. The spatially resolved NIR diagnostic diagram of NGC 34 also identifies a circumnuclear structure dominated by processes related to the stellar radiation field and a nuclear region where [FeII] and H2 emissions are enhanced relative to the hydrogen recombination lines. We estimate that the nuclear X-ray source can account for the central H2 enhancement and conclude that [FeII] and H2 emissions are due to a combination of photoionization by young stars, excitation by X-rays produced by the AGN and shocks. These emission lines show nuclear, broad, blueshifted components that can be interpreted as nuclear outflows driven by the AGN.

We use the Gemini NIFS instrument to map the H22.1218μm and Brγ flux distributions in the inner 0.04–2 kpc of a sample of 36 nearby active galaxies (0.001 ≲ z ≲ 0.056) at spatial resolutions from 4 to 250 pc. We find extended emission in 34 galaxies. In ∼55 per cent of them, the emission in both lines is most extended along the galaxy major axis, while in the other 45 per cent the extent follows a distinct orientation. The emission of H2 is less concentrated than that of Brγ, presenting a radius that contains half of the flux 60 per cent greater, on average. The H2 emission is driven by thermal processes – X-ray heating and shocks – at most locations for all galaxies, where 0.4 6 (seen in 40 per cent of the galaxies), shocks are the main H2 excitation mechanism, while in regions with H2/Brγ < 0.4 (25 per cent of the sample) the H2 emission is produced by fluorescence. The only difference we found between type 1 and type 2 active galactic nucleus (AGN) was in the nuclear emission-line equivalent widths that are smaller in type 1 than in type 2 due to a larger contribution to the continuum from the hot dusty torus in the former. The gas masses in the inner 125 pc radius are in the range 101−104 M⊙ for the hot H2 and 103−106 M⊙ for the ionized gas and would be enough to power the AGN in our sample for 105−108 yr at their current accretion rates.

For the first time, neon abundance has been derived in the narrow line region from a sample of Seyfert 2 nuclei. In view of this, we compiled from the literature fluxes of optical and infrared (IR) narrow emission lines for 35 Seyfert 2 nuclei in the local universe (z 0.06). The relative intensities of emission lines were used to derive the ionic and total neon and oxygen abundances through electron temperature estimations (Te-method). For the neon, abundance estimates were obtained by using both Te-method and IR-method. Based on photoionization model results, we found a lower electron temperature [te(Ne iii)] for the gas phase where the Ne2 + is located in comparison with t3 for the O2 + ion. We find that the differences (D) between Ne2 +/H+ ionic abundances calculated from IR-method and Te-method (assuming t3 in the Ne2 +/H+ derivation) are similar to the derivations in star-forming regions (SFs) and they are reduced by a mean factor of ∼3 when te(Ne iii) is considered. We propose a semi-empirical Ionization Correction Factor (ICF) for the neon, based on [Ne II]12.81μm, [Ne III]15.56μm, and oxygen ionic abundance ratios. We find that the average Ne/H abundance for the Seyfert 2s sample is nearly 2 times higher than similar estimate for SFs. Finally, for the very high metallicity regime (i.e. [12 + log(O/H) 8.80]) an increase in Ne/O with O/H is found, which likely indicates secondary stellar production for the neon.

In this work, we characterize the properties of the object SDSS J020536.84−081424.7, an extended nebular region with projected extension of 14 × 14 kpc2 in the line of sight of the ETG Mrk 1172, using unprecedented spectroscopic data from MUSE. We perform a spatially resolved stellar population synthesis and estimate the stellar mass for both Mrk 1172 (1 × 1011 M ) and our object of study (3 × 109 M ). While the stellar content of Mrk 1172 is dominated by an old (∼10 Gyr) stellar population, the extended nebular emission has its light dominated by young to intermediate age populations (from ∼100 Myr to ∼1 Gyr) and presents strong emission lines such as H β; [O III] λλ4959, 5007 Å; H α; [N II] λλ6549, 6585 Å; and [S II] λλ6717, 6732 Å. Using these emission lines, we find that it is metal poor (with Z ∼ 1/3 Z , comparable to the LMC) and is actively forming stars (0.70 M yr−1), especially in a few bright clumpy knots that are readily visible in H α. The object has an ionized gas mass ≥3.8 × 105 M . Moreover, the motion of the gas is well described by a gas in circular orbit in the plane of a disc and is being affected by interaction wtih Mrk 1172. We conclude that SDSS J020536.84−081424.7 is most likely a dwarf irregular galaxy (the dIGal).

The near-infrared spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) present emission lines of different atomic and molecular species. The mechanisms involved in the origin of these emission lines in AGN are still not fully understood. We use J- and K-band integral field spectra of six luminous (43.1 < logLbol/(erg s−1) < 44.4) Seyfert galaxies (NGC 788, Mrk 607, NGC 3227, NGC 3516, NGC 5506, and NGC 5899) in the local Universe (0.0039

The effect of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) feedback on the host galaxy, and its role in quenching or enhancing star formation, is still uncertain due to the fact that usual star formation rate (SFR) indicators – emission-line luminosities based on the assumption of photoionization by young stars – cannot be used for active galaxies as the ionizing source is the AGN. We thus investigate the use of SFR derived from the stellar population and its relation with that derived from the gas for a sample of 170 AGN hosts and a matched control sample of 291 galaxies. We compare the values of SFR densities obtained via the H α emission line (SFRGas) for regions ionized by hot stars according to diagnostic diagrams with those obtained from stellar population synthesis (SFR ) over the last 1 to 100 Myr. We find that the SFR over the last 20 Myr closely reproduces the SFRGas, although a better match is obtained via the transformation: log(SFR ) = (0.872 ± 0.004)log(SFRGas) − (0.075 ± 0.006) (or log(SFRGas) = (1.147 ± 0.005)log(SFR ) + (0.086 ± 0.080)), which is valid for both AGN hosts and non-active galaxies. We also compare the reddening obtained via the gas H α/H β ratio with that derived via the full spectral fitting in the stellar population synthesis. We find that the ratio between the gas and stellar extinction is in the range 2.64 ≤AVg/AV ≤ 2.85, in approximate agreement with previous results from the literature, obtained for smaller samples. We interpret the difference as being due to the fact that the reddening of the stars is dominated by that affecting the less obscured underlying older population, while the reddening of the gas is larger as it is associated with a younger stellar population buried deeper in the dust.

We present maps for the electron temperature in the inner kpc of three luminous Seyfert galaxies: Mrk 79, Mrk 348, and Mrk 607 obtained from Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph-integral field unit observations at spatial resolutions of ∼110–280 pc. We study the distributions of electron temperature in active galaxies and find temperatures varying in the range from ∼8000 to 30 000 K. Shocks due to gas outflows play an important role in the observed temperature distributions of Mrk 79 and Mrk 348, while standard photoionization models reproduce the derived temperature values for Mrk 607. In Mrk 79 and Mrk 348, we find direct evidence for shock ionization with overall orientation orthogonal to the ionization axis, where shocks can be easily observed as the active galactic nuclei radiation field is shielded by the nuclear dusty torus. This also indicates that even when the ionization cones are narrow, the shocks can be much wider angle.

We present Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) Integral Field Unit (IFU), Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and Very Large Array (VLA) observations of the OH Megamaser (OHM) galaxy IRAS 11506−3851. The HST images reveal an isolated spiral galaxy and the combination with the GMOS-IFU flux distributions and VLA data allow us to identify a partial ring of star-forming regions surrounding the nucleus with a radius of ≈ 500 pc. While this ring shows starburst excitation and low velocity dispersion, the region internal to the ring shows higher excitation and velocity dispersion values, with values increasing towards its borders at ≈ 240 pc from the nucleus, resembling a projected bubble. The enhanced excitation and velocity dispersion of this bubble surrounds a 8.5-GHz radio emission structure, supporting its origin in a faint active galactic nucleus (AGN) that is mostly shocking the surrounding gas via a plasma ejection seen in radio at the present stage. This is the fourth of the 5 OHM galaxies we have studied so far (from our sample of 15 OHM) for which GMOS-IFU data indicate the presence of a previously unknown faint AGN at the nucleus, consistent with the hypothesis that OHM galaxies harbour recently triggered AGN.

We investigate the ionized gas excitation and kinematics in the inner 4.3 × 6.2 kpc2 of the merger radio galaxy 4C+29.30. Using optical integral field spectroscopy with the Gemini North Telescope, we present flux distributions, line-ratio maps, peak velocities and velocity dispersion maps as well as channel maps with a spatial resolution of ≈955 pc. We observe high blueshifts of up to ∼−650 km s−1 in a region ∼1 arcsec south of the nucleus (the southern knot – SK), which also presents high velocity dispersions (∼250 km s−1), which we attribute to an outflow. A possible redshifted counterpart is observed north from the nucleus (the northern knot – NK). We propose that these regions correspond to a bipolar outflow possibly due to the interaction of the radio jet with the ambient gas. We estimate a total ionized gas mass outflow rate of M˙ out = 25.4+11.5 −7.5 M yr−1with a kinetic power of E˙ = 8.1+10.7 −4.0 × 1042 erg s−1, which represents 5.8+7.6 −2.9 per cent of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) bolometric luminosity. These values are higher than usually observed in nearby active galaxies with the same bolometric luminosities and could imply a significant impact of the outflows in the evolution of the host galaxy. The excitation is higher in the NK – that correlates with extended X-ray emission, indicating the presence of hotter gas – than in the SK, supporting a scenario in which an obscuring dust lane is blocking part of the AGN radiation to reach the southern region of the galaxy.

As part of a high-resolution observational study of feeding and feedback processes occurring in the vicinity of the active galactic nucleus in 40 galaxies, we observed the inner 3′′.5 × 5 arcsec of the nearby spiral and Seyfert 2 galaxy UGC 2024 with the integral field unit of the Gemini-South Telescope. The observations enabled a study of the stellar and gas kinematics in this region at a spatial resolution of 0′′.5 (218 pc), and a spectral resolution of 36 km s−1 over the wavelength range 4100–7300 Å. For the strongest emission-lines (H β, [OIII] λ5007 Å, H α, [NII] λ6584 Å, and [SII] λλ6717,6731 Å) we derived maps of the flux, radial velocity, and velocity dispersion. The flux distribution and kinematics of the [OIII] emission line are roughly symmetric around the nucleus: the radial velocity is close to systemic over the full field of view. The kinematics of the other strong emission lines trace both this systemic velocity component, and ordered rotation (with kinematic centre 0′′.2 north-west of the nucleus). The stellar continuum morphology and kinematics are, however, asymmetrical around the nucleus. We interpret these unusual kinematics as the superposition of a component of gas rotating in the galaxy disc plus a ‘halo’ component of highly ionized gas. This halo either traces a quasi-spherical fountain with average radial velocity 200 km s−1, in which case the total nuclear outflow mass and momentum are 2 × 105 M⊙ and 4 × 107 M⊙ km s−1, respectively, or a dispersion supported halo created by a past nuclear starburst

We present two-dimensional ionized gas and stellar kinematics in the inner 1.4 × 1.9 kpc2 of the Seyfert 2 galaxy ESO 153-G20 obtained with the Gemini-South/Gemini multi-object spectrograph integral field unit (GMOS-IFU) at a spatial resolution of ~250 pc and spectral resolution of 36 km s−1. Strong [O iii], Hα, [N ii] and [S ii] emission lines are detected over the entire field of view. The stellar kinematics trace circular rotation with a projected velocity amplitude of ±96 km s−1, a kinematic major axis in position angle of 11°, and an average velocity dispersion of 123 km s−1. To analyse the gas kinematics, we used aperture spectra, position–velocity diagrams and single/double Gaussian fits to the emission lines. All lines show two clear kinematic components: a rotating component that follows the stellar kinematics, and a larger-dispersion component, close to the systemic velocity (from which most of the [O iii] emission comes), mainly detected to the south-west. We interpret this second component as gas outflowing at ~400 km s−1 in a compact (300 pc) ionization cone with a half-opening angle ≤40°. The counter-cone is probably obscured behind a dust lane. We estimate a mass outflow rate of 1.1 M⊙ yr−1, 200 times larger than the estimated accretion rate on to the supermassive black hole, and a kinetic to radiative power ratio of 1.7 × 10−3. Bar-induced perturbations probably explain the remaining disturbances observed in the velocity field of the rotating gas component.

We have used the Gemini Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph in the J and K bands to map the distribution, excitation, and kinematics of the ionized H ii and warm molecular gas H2, in the inner few 100 pc of six nearby active galaxies: NGC 788, Mrk 607, NGC 3227, NGC 3516, NGC 5506, NGC 5899. For most galaxies, this is the first time that such maps have been obtained. The ionized and H2 gas show distinct kinematics: while the H2 gas is mostly rotating in the galaxy plane with low velocity dispersion (σ), the ionized gas usually shows signatures of outflows associated with higher σ values, most clearly seen in the [Fe ii] emission line. These two gas species also present distinct flux distributions: the H2 is more uniformly spread over the whole galaxy plane, while the ionized gas is more concentrated around the nucleus and/or collimated along the ionization axis of its active galactic nucleus (AGN), presenting a steeper gradient in the average surface mass density profile than the H2 gas. The total H ii masses cover the range 2×105--2×107 M⊙, with surface mass densities in the range 3–150 M⊙ pc−2, while for the warm H2 the values are 103–4 times lower. We estimate that the available gas reservoir is at least ≈ 100 times more massive than needed to power the AGN. If this gas forms new stars the star formation rates, obtained from the Kennicutt–Schmidt scaling relation, are in the range 1–260 × 10−3 M⊙ yr−1. But the gas will also – at least in part – be ejected as the observed outflows

We investigate the effects of active galactic nuclei (AGN) on the gas kinematics of their host galaxies, using MaNGA data for a sample of 62 AGN hosts and 109 control galaxies (inactive galaxies). We compare orientation of the line of nodes (kinematic position angle – PA) measured from the gas and stellar velocity fields for the two samples. We found that AGN hosts and control galaxies display similar kinematic PA offsets between gas and stars. However, we note that AGN have larger fractional velocity dispersion σ differences between gas and stars [σfrac = (σgas − σstars)/σstars] when compared to their controls, as obtained from the velocity dispersion values of the central (nuclear) pixel (2. 5 diameter). The AGN have a median value of σfrac of AGN = 0.04, while the median value for the control galaxies is CTR =−0.23. 75 per cent of the AGN show σfrac > −0.13, while 75 per cent of the normal galaxies show σfrac < −0.04, thus we suggest that the parameter σfrac can be used as an indicator of AGN activity. We find a correlation between the [OIII]λ5007 luminosity and σfrac for our sample. Our main conclusion is that the AGN already observed with MaNGA are not powerful enough to produce important outflows at galactic scales, but at 1–2 kpc scales, AGN feedback signatures are always present on their host galaxies.

Context. Tracing nuclear inflows and outflows in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), determining the mass of gas involved in them, and their impact on the host galaxy and nuclear black hole requires 3D imaging studies of both the ionized and molecular gas. Aims. We map the distribution and kinematics of molecular and ionized gas in a sample of active galaxies to quantify the nuclear inflows and outflows. Here, we analyze the nuclear kinematics of NGC 1566 via ALMA observations of the CO J:2-1 emission at 24 pc spatial and ∼2.6 km s−1 spectral resolution, and Gemini-GMOS/IFU observations of ionized gas emission lines and stellar absorption lines at similar spatial resolution, and 123 km s−1 of intrinsic spectral resolution. Methods. The morphology and kinematics of stellar, molecular (CO), and ionized ([N II]) emission lines are compared to the expectations from rotation, outflows, and streaming inflows. Results. While both ionized and molecular gas show rotation signatures, there are significant non-circular motions in the innermost 200 pc and along spiral arms in the central kpc (CO). The nucleus shows a double-peaked CO profile (full width at zero intensity of 200 km s−1), and prominent (∼80 km s−1) blue- and redshifted lobes are found along the minor axis in the inner arcseconds. Perturbations by the large-scale bar can qualitatively explain all features in the observed velocity field. We thus favor the presence of a molecular outflow in the disk with true velocities of ∼180 km s−1 in the nucleus and decelerating to 0 by ∼72 pc. The implied molecular outflow rate is 5.6 M⊙ yr−1, with this gas accumulating in the nuclear 2″ arms. The ionized gas kinematics support an interpretation of a similar but more spherical outflow in the inner 100 pc, with no signs of deceleration. There is some evidence of streaming inflows of ∼50 km s−1 along specific spiral arms, and the estimated molecular mass inflow rate, ∼0.1 M⊙ yr−1, is significantly higher than the SMBH accretion rate (ṁ = 4.8 × 10−5 M⊙ yr−1).

We present a sample of 48 nearby galaxies with central, biconical outflows identified by the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO survey. All considered galaxies have star-formation-driven biconical (SFB) central outflows, with no signs of an active galactic nucleus. We find that the SFB outflows require high central concentration of the star formation rate. This increases the gas velocity dispersion over the equilibrium limit and helps maintain the gas outflows. The central starbursts increase the metallicity, extinction, and the [α/Fe] ratio in the gas. A significant amount of young stellar population at the centers suggests that the SFBs are associated with the formation of young bulges in galaxies. More than 70% of SFB galaxies are group members or have companions with no prominent interaction, or show asymmetry of external isophotes. In 15% of SFB cases, stars and gas rotate in the opposite directions, which points at the gas infall from satellites as the primary reason for triggering the SFB phenomena.

We present a spatially resolved stellar population study of the inner∼200 pc radius ofNGC 4303 based on near-infrared integral field spectroscopy with SINFONI/VLT at a spatial resolution of 40–80 pc and using the STARLIGHT code. We found that the distribution of thestellar populations presents a spatial variation, suggesting an age stratification. Three main structures stand out. Two nuclear blobs, one composed by young stars (t≤50 Myr) and onewith intermediate-age stars (50 Myr2 Gyr) is distributed outside the two blob structures.For the nuclear region (inner∼60 pc radius) we derived an SFR of 0.43 M yr−1and foundno signatures of non-thermal featureless continuum and hot dust emission, supporting thescenario in which an LLAGN/LINER-like source is hidden in the centre of NGC 4303. Thus, our results reveal a rather complex star formation history in NGC 4303, with different stellar population components coexisting with a low efficiency accreting black hole in its centre.

We present a multiwavelength study of the OH megamaser galaxy IRAS17526 + 3253, based on new Gemini multi-object spectrograph integral field unit (GMOS/IFU) observations, Hubble Space Telescope F814W, and H α + [N II] images, and archival 2MASS and 1.49 GHz VLA data. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images clearly reveal a mid-to-advanced stage major merger whose northwestern and southeastern nuclei have a projected separation of ∼8.5 kpc. Our HST/H α + [N II] image shows regions of ongoing star formation across the envelope on∼10 kpc scales, which are aligned with radio features, supporting the interpretation that the radio emission originates from star-forming regions. The measured H α luminosities imply that the unobscured star formation rate (SFR) is ∼10–30 M yr−1. The GMOS/IFU data reveal two structures in northwestern separated by 850 pc and by a discontinuity in the velocity field of ∼ 200 km s−1. We associate the blueshifted and redshifted components with, respectively, the distorted disc of northwestern and tidal debris, possibly a tail originating in southeastern. Star formation is the main ionization source in both components, which have SFRs of ∼2.6–7.9 M yr−1 and ∼1.5–4.5 M yr−1, respectively. Fainter line emission bordering these main components is consistent with shock ionization at a velocity ∼200 km s−1 and may be the result of an interaction between the tidal tail and the northwestern galaxy’s disc. IRAS17526 + 3253 is one of only a few systems known to host both luminous OH and H2O masers. The velocities of the OH and H2O maser lines suggest that they are associated with the northwestern and southeastern galaxies, respectively (Martin et al.; Wagner).

Intermediate-mass black holes (103–105 M⊙) in the centre of dwarf galaxies are believed to be analogous to growing active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the early Universe. Their characterization can provide insight about the early galaxies. We present optical and near-infrared integral field spectroscopy of the inner ∼50 pc of the dwarf galaxy NGC 4395, known to harbour an AGN. NGC 4395 is an ideal candidate to investigate the nature of dwarf AGN, as it is nearby (d ≈ 4.4 Mpc) enough to allow a close look at its nucleus. The optical data were obtained with the Gemini GMOS-IFU covering the 4500 –7300 Å spectral range at a spatial resolution of 10 pc. The J and K-band spectra were obtained with the Gemini NIFS at spatial resolutions of ∼5 pc. The gas kinematics show a compact, rotation disc component with a projected velocity amplitude of 25 kms−1. We estimate a mass of 7.7 × 105 M⊙ inside a radius of 10 pc. From the Hα broad-line component, we estimate the AGN bolometric luminosity as Lbol=(9.9±1.4)×1040 erg s−1 and a mass MBH=(2.5+1.0−0.8)×105 M⊙ for the central black hole. The mean surface mass densities for the ionized and molecular gas are in the ranges (1–2) M⊙ pc−2 and (1–4) × 10−3 M⊙ pc−2 and the average ratio between ionized and hot molecular gas masses is ∼500. The emission-line flux distributions reveal an elongated structure at 24 pc west of the nucleus, which is blueshifted relative to the systemic velocity of the galaxy by ≈30 kms−1. We speculate that this structure is originated by the accretion of a gas-rich small satellite or by a low-metallicity cosmic cloud

We present a 2D mapping of stellar population age components, emission-line fluxes, gas excitation, and kinematics within the inner ∼200 pc of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 2110. We used the Gemini North Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) in the J and K bands at a spatial resolution of ∼22 pc. The unresolved nuclear continuum is originated in combined contributions of young stellar population (SP; age ≤ 100 Myr), a featureless AGN continuum and hot dust emission. The young-intermediate SP (100 < age ≤ 700 Myr) is distributed in a ring-shaped structure at ≈140 pc from the nucleus, which is roughly coincident with the lowest values of the stellar velocity dispersion. In the inner ≈115 pc the old SP (age > 2 Gyr) is dominant. The [Fe ii] λ1.2570μm emission-line flux distribution is correlated with the radio emission and its kinematics comprise two components, one from gas rotating in the galaxy plane and another from gas in outflow within a bicone-oriented along north–south. These outflows seem to originate in the interaction of the radio jet with the ambient gas producing shocks that are the main excitation mechanism of the [Fe ii] emission. We estimate: (1) an ionized gas mass outflow rate of ∼0.5 M⊙ yr−1 at ∼70 pc from the nucleus; and (2) a kinetic power for the outflow of only 0.05 per cent of the AGN bolometric luminosity implying weak feedback effect on the galaxy

We map optical and near-infrared (NIR) stellar population properties of the inner 320 × 535 pc2 of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1052. The optical and NIR spectra were obtained using the Gemini Integral Field Units of the GMOS instrument and NIFS, respectively. By performing stellar population synthesis in the optical alone, we find that this region of the galaxy is dominated by old (t > 10 Gyr) stellar populations. Using the NIR, we find the nucleus to be dominated by old stellar populations, and a circumnuclear ring with younger (~2.5 Gyr) stars. We also combined the optical and NIR datacubes and performed a panchromatic spatially resolved stellar population synthesis, which resulted in a dominance of older stellar populations, in agreement with optical results. We argue that the technique of combining optical and NIR data might be useful to isolate the contribution of stellar population ages with strong NIR absorption bands. We also derive the stellar kinematics and find that the stellar motions are dominated by a high (~240 km s−1) velocity dispersion in the nucleus, with stars also rotating around the centre. Lastly, we measure the absorption bands, both in the optical and in the NIR, and find a nuclear drop in their equivalent widths. The favoured explanation for this drop is a featureless continuum emission from the low luminosity active galactic nucleus.

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are present at the centre of most galaxies, with the related mass accretion processes giving origin to outflows in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). It has been presumed that only intense winds from luminous AGNs were able to suppress star formation until the discovery of a new class of galaxies with no recent star formation and with the nucleus in a quiescent state showing kpc scale outflows. We used SDSS MaNGA and Gemini Integral Field Spectroscopy of the prototype Red Geyser Akira and found that the orientation of the outflow changes by about 50° from its nucleus to kpc scales. A possible interpretation is that the outflow is produced by a precessing accretion disc due to a misalignment between the orientation of the disc and the spin of the SMBH. The precession of the central source is also supported by a similar change in the orientation of the ionization pattern. Although similar behaviour has commonly being reported for collimated relativistic jets, the precession of an AGN wide wind is reported here for the first time, implying on a larger work surface of the wind, which in turn increases the star formation suppression efficiency of the outflow.

Extended narrow-line regions (NLRs) around active galactic nuclei (AGN) are shaped by the distribution of gas in the host galaxy and by the geometry of the circumnuclear obscuration, and thus they can be used to test the AGN unification model. In this work, we quantify the morphologies of the NLRs in 308 nearby AGN (z = 0 − 0.14, Lbol∼1042.4 − 44.1 erg s−1) from the MaNGA survey. Based on the NLR maps, we find that a large fraction (81 per cent) of these AGN have bi-conical NLR morphology. The distribution of their measured opening angles suggests that the intrinsic opening angles of the ionization cones have a mean value of 85◦–98◦ with a finite spread of 39◦–44◦ (1σ). Our inferred opening angle distribution implies a number ratio of type I to type II AGN of 1:1.6–2.3, consistent with other measurements of the type I/type II ratio at low AGN luminosities. Combining these measurements with the WISE photometry data, we find that redder mid-IR colour (lower effective temperature of dust) corresponds to stronger and narrower photoionized bicones. This relation is in agreement with the unification model that suggests that the bi-conical NLRs are shaped by a toroidal dusty structure within a few pc from the AGN. Furthermore, we find a significant alignment between theminor axis of host galaxy discs andAGNionization cones. Together, these findings suggest that obscuration on both circumnuclear (∼pc) and galactic (∼ kpc) scales is important in shaping and orienting the AGN NLRs.

We present Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) Integral field Unit (IFU), Very Large Array (VLA), and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the OH megamaser (OHM) galaxy IRAS F23199+0123. Our observations show that this system is an interacting pair, with two OHM sources associated with the eastern (IRAS 23199E) member. The two members of the pair present somewhat extended radio emission at 3 and 20 cm, with flux peaks at each nucleus. The GMOS-IFU observations cover the inner ∼6 kpc of IRAS 23199E at a spatial resolution of 2.3 kpc. The GMOS-IFU flux distributions in Hα and [N II] λ6583 are similar to that of an HST [N II]+Hα narrow-band image, being more extended along the north-east–southwest direction, as also observed in the continuum HST F814W image. The GMOS-IFU Hα flux map of IRAS 23199E shows three extranuclear knots attributed to star-forming complexes. We have discovered a Seyfert 1 nucleus in this galaxy, as its nuclear spectrum shows an unresolved broad (full width at half-maximum ≈2170 km s−1) double-peaked Hα component, from which we derive a black hole mass of MBH = 3.8+0.3−0.2× 106M . The gas kinematics shows low velocity dispersions (σ) and low [NII]/Hα ratios for the star-forming complexes and higher σ and [N II]/Hα surrounding the radio emission region, supporting interaction between the radio plasma and ambient gas. The two OH masers detected in IRAS F23199E are observed in the vicinity of these enhanced σ regions, supporting their association with the active nucleus and its interaction with the surrounding gas. The gas velocity field can be partially reproduced by rotation in a disc, with residuals along the north–south direction being tentatively attributed to emission from the front walls of a bipolar outflow.

We present and characterize a sample of 20 nearby Seyfert galaxies selected for having BAT 14–195 keV luminosities LX ≥ 1041.5 erg s−1, redshift z ≤ 0.015, being accessible for observations with the Gemini Near-Infrared Field Spectrograph (NIFS) and showing extended [O III]λ5007 emission. Our goal is to study Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) feeding and feedback processes from near-infrared integral-field spectra, which include both ionized (H II) and hot molecular (H2) emission. This sample is complemented by other nine Seyfert galaxies previously observed with NIFS.We show that the host galaxy properties (absolute magnitudes MB, MH, central stellar velocity dispersion and axial ratio) show a similar distribution to those of the 69 BAT AGN. For the 20 galaxies already observed, we present surface mass density ( ) profiles for HII and H2 in their inner ∼500 pc, showing that HII emission presents a steeper radial gradient thanH2. This can be attributed to the different excitationmechanisms: ionization by AGN radiation for HII and heating by X-rays for H2. The mean surface mass densities are in the range (0.2 ≤ HII ≤ 35.9)M pc−2, and (0.2 ≤ H2 ≤ 13.9)× 10−3M pc−2, while the ratios between the HII and H2 masses range between ∼200 and 8000. The sample presented here will be used in future papers to map AGN gas excitation and kinematics, providing a census of the mass inflow and outflow rates and power as well as their relation with the AGN luminosity.

NGC 3393, a nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy with nuclear radio jets, large-scale and nuclear bars, and a posited secondary supermassive black hole, provides an interesting laboratory to test the physics of inflows and outflows. Here we present and analyse the molecular gas [ALMA observations of CO J:2-1 emission over a field of view (FOV) of 45 arcsec × 45 arcsec, at 0. 56 (143 pc) spatial and 5 kms−1 spectral resolution), ionized gas and stars (GEMINI–GMOS/IFU; over an FOV of 4 arcsec × 5 arcsec, at 0. 62 (159 pc) spatial and 23 km s−1 spectral resolution) in NGC 3393. The ionized gas emission, detected over the complete GEMINI–GMOS FOV, has three identifiable kinematic components. A narrow (σ < 115 km s−1) component present in the complete FOV, which is consistent with rotation in the galaxy disc. A broad (σ > 115 km s−1) redshifted component, detected near the NE and SW radio lobes; which we interpret as a radio jet-driven outflow. And a broad (σ > 115 km s−1) blueshifted component that shows high velocities in a region perpendicular to the radio jet axis; we interpret this as an equatorial outflow. The CO J:2-1 emission is detected in spiral arms on 5–20 arcsec scales, and in two disturbed circumnuclear regions. The molecular kinematics in the spiral arms can be explained by rotation. The highly disturbed kinematics of the inner region can be explained by perturbations induced by the nuclear bar and interactions with the large scale bar. We find no evidence for, but cannot strongly rule out, the presence of the posited secondary black hole.

We present two-dimensional maps of emission-line fluxes and kinematics, as well as of the stellar kinematics of the central few kpc of five bright nearby Seyfert galaxies –Mrk 6, Mrk 79, Mrk 348, Mrk 607, and Mrk 1058 – obtained from observations with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph Integral Field Unit on the Gemini North Telescope. The data cover the inner 3.5 arcsec×5.0 arcsec – corresponding to physical scales in the range 0.6×0.9–1.5×2.2 kpc2 – at a spatial resolution ranging from 110 to 280 pc with a spectral coverage of 4300–7100Å and velocity resolution of ≈90 km s−1. The gas excitation is Seyfert like everywhere but show excitation gradients that are correlated with the gas kinematics, reddening and/or the gas density. The gas kinematics show in all cases two components: a rotation one similar to that observed in the stellar velocity field, and an outflow component. In the case of Mrk607, the gas is counter-rotating relative to the stars. Enhanced gas velocity dispersion is observed in association with the outflows according to two patterns: at the locations of the highest outflow velocities along the ionization axis or perpendicularly to it in a strip centred at the nucleus that we attribute to an equatorial outflow. Bipolar outflows are observed in Mrk 348 and Mrk 79, while in Mrk 1058 only the blueshifted part is clearly observed, while in cases of Mrk 6 and Mrk 607, the geometry of the outflow needs further constraints from modelling to be presented in a forthcoming study, where the mass flow rate and powers will also be obtained.

We present Gemini Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) observations of the inner 1.5 × 1.5 kpc2 of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 42 at a spatial resolution of 60 pc and spectral resolution of 40 kms−1. The emission-line flux and equivalent width maps clearly show a ring of circumnuclear star formation regions surrounding the nucleus with radius of ∼500 pc. The spectra of some of these regions show molecular absorption features which are probably of CN, TiO, or VO, indicating the presence of massive evolved stars in the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch phase. The gas kinematics of the ring is dominated by rotation in the plane of the galaxy, following the large-scale disc geometry, while at the nucleus an additional outflowing component is detected blueshifted by 300–500 km s−1, relative to the systemic velocity of the galaxy. Based on the equivalent width of Br γ we find pieces of evidence of gradients in the age of HII regions along the ring of Mrk 42, favouring the pearls on a string scenario of star formation. The broad component of Pa β emission line presents a FullWidth at Half Maximum of ∼1480 km s−1, implying in a mass of ∼2.5 × 106 M for the central supermassive black hole. Based on emission-line ratios we conclude that besides the active galactic nucleus, Mrk 42 presents nuclear Starburst activity.

We present spatially resolved stellar population (SP) age maps, average radial profiles and gradients for the first 62 active galactic nuclei (AGN) observed with Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-IV Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) to study the effects of the active nuclei on the star formation history of the host galaxies. These results, derived using the STARLIGHT code, are compared with a control sample of non-active galaxies matching the properties of the AGN hosts. We find that the fraction of young SPs in highluminosity AGN is higher in the inner (R ≤ 0.5 Re) regions when compared with the control sample; low-luminosity AGN, on the other hand, present very similar fractions of young stars to the control sample hosts for the entire studied range (1 Re). The fraction of intermediate-age SP of the AGN hosts increases outwards, with a clear enhancement when compared with the control sample. The inner region of the galaxies (AGN and control galaxies) presents a dominant old SP, whose fraction decreases outwards.We also compare our results (differences between AGN and control galaxies) for the early- and late-type hosts and find no significant differences. In summary, our results suggest that the most luminous AGN seems to have been triggered by a recent supply of gas that has also triggered recent star formation (t ≤40 Myr) in the central region.

We report the characterization of the first 62 Mapping Nearby Galaxies at the Apache Point Observatory active galactic nuclei (AGNs) hosts and the definition of a control sample of non-active galaxies. This control sample was selected in order to match the AGN hosts in terms of stellar mass, redshift, visual morphology and inclination. The stellar masses are in the range 9.4 < log M/M < 11.5, and most objects have redshifts ≤0.08. The AGN sample is mostly comprised low-luminosity AGN, with only 17 ‘strong AGN’ with L([O III]λ5007 Å) ≥ 3.8 × 1040 erg s−1. The inner 1–3 kpc of the control sample galaxies are dominated by the oldest (≥ 4Gyr) component, with a small contribution of intermediate age and young stars (

We present a near-infrared (near-IR) study of the spectral components of the continuum in the inner 500×500 pc2 of the nearby Seyfert galaxy Mrk 573 using adaptive optics near-IR integral field spectroscopy with the instrument near-infrared integral field spectrograph of the Gemini North Telescope at a spatial resolution of ∼50 pc. We performed spectral synthesis using the STARLIGHT code and constructed maps for the contributions of different age components of the stellar population: young (age ≤100 Myr), young–intermediate (100 < age≤ 700 Myr), intermediate–old (700 Myr < age ≤ 2 Gyr) and old (age > 2 Gyr) to the near-IR K-band continuum, as well as their contribution to the total stellar mass. We found that the old stellar population is dominant within the inner 250 pc, while the intermediate-age components dominate the continuum at larger distances. A young stellar component contributes up to ∼20 per cent within the inner ∼70 pc, while hot dust emission and featureless continuum components are also necessary to fit the nuclear spectrum, contributing up to 20 per cent of the K-band flux there. The radial distribution of the different age components in the inner kiloparsec of Mrk 573 is similar to those obtained by our group for the Seyfert galaxies Mrk 1066, Mrk 1157 and NGC 1068 in previous works using a similar methodology. Young stellar populations (≤100 Myr) are seen in the inner 200–300 pc for all galaxies contributing with ≥20 per cent of the K-band flux, while the near-IR continuum is dominated by the contribution of intermediate-age stars (t = 100 Myr–2 Gyr) at larger distances. Older stellar populations dominate in the inner 250 pc.

We present near-infrared and optical emission-line and stellar kinematics of the Seyfert 2 galaxy Mrk 573 using the Near-Infrared Field Spectrograph (NIFS) at Gemini North and Dual Imaging Spectrograph at Apache Point Observatory, respectively. By obtaining full kinematic maps of the infrared ionized and molecular gas and stellar kinematics in a ∼700×2100pc2 circumnuclear region of Mrk573, we find that kinematics within the Narrow- Line Region are largely due to a combination of both rotation and in situ acceleration of material originating in the host disk. Combining these observations with large-scale, optical long-slit spectroscopy that traces ionized gas emission out to several kpcs, we find that rotation kinematics dominate the majority of the gas. We find that outflowing gas extends to distances less than 1 kpc, suggesting that outflows in Seyfert galaxies may not be powerful enough to evacuate their entire bulges.

We map the gas excitation and kinematics, and the stellar population properties of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 using Gemini Near Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph in the J and K bands at a spatial and velocity resolution of 105 pc and 45 km s−1, respectively. Emission-line flux distributions in ionized and molecular gas extend up to ≈400 pc from the nucleus, where they are found to peak. The mass of HII is 4.8±0.6 × 106 M and the mass of warm H2 is 1.1±0.2 × 103 M , while the mass of cold H2 is estimated as 5.8±1.2 × 108 M . The Pa β emission shows two kinematic components: one in blueshift, with velocity reaching ≈−300 km s−1 and another showing a velocity field characteristic of rotation in the galaxy plane. The blueshifted component is also observed in the coronal line [S IX]λ1.2523 μm, while the rotational component is also observed in the molecular gas.We interpret this velocity field as due to gas rotating in the galaxy plane plus an outflow, and estimate a mass outflow rate of 6.8±0.75 M yr−1. Spectral synthesis of the continuum shows nuclear emission dominated by a featureless AGN continuum combined with hot dust emission attributed to a dusty torus. The stellar population is dominated by an old (2 Gyr < t ≤ 15 Gyr) component between 160 and 300 pc, while closer to the nucleus, an intermediate age (50 Myr < t ≤ 2 Gyr) component contributes at levels ranging from ≈40 per cent to ≈100 per cent to the flux at 2.12 μm.

We present Gemini/GNIRS (Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph) spectroscopy of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4388, with simultaneous coverage from 0.85 to 2.5 μm. Several spatially extended emission lines are detected for the first time, both in the obscured and unobscured portion of the optical narrow-line region (NLR), allowing us to assess the combined effects of the central continuum source, outflowing gas and shocks generated by the radio jet on the central 280 pc gas. The HI and [Fe II] lines allow us to map the extinction affecting the NLR. We found that the nuclear region is heavily obscured, with E(B − V) ∼ 1.9 mag. To the NE of the nucleus and up to ∼150 pc, the extinction remains large, ∼1 mag or larger, consistent with the system of dust lanes seen in optical imaging.We derived position–velocity diagrams for the most prominent lines as well as for the stellar component. Only the molecular gas and the stellar component display a well-organized pattern consistent with disc rotation. Other emission lines are kinematically perturbed or show little evidence of rotation. Extended high-ionization emission of sulphur, silicon and calcium is observed to distances of at least 200 pc both NE and SW of the nucleus. We compared flux ratios between these lines with photoionization models and conclude that radiation from the central source alone cannot explain the observed high-ionization spectrum. Shocks between the radio jet and the ambient gas are very likely an additional source of excitation. We conclude that NGC 4388 is a prime laboratory to study the interplay between all these mechanisms.

We used Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph in the integral field unit mode to map the stellar population, emission-line flux distributions and gas kinematics in the inner kpc of NGC 5044. From the stellar populations synthesis, we found that the continuum emission is dominated by old high metallicity stars (∼13 Gyr, 2.5 Z ). Also, its nuclear emission is diluted by a nonthermal emission, which we attribute to the presence of a weak active galactic nucleus (AGN). In addition, we report for the first time a broad component (FWHM ∼ 3000 km s−1) in the Hα emission line in the nuclear region of NGC 5044. By using emission-line ratio diagnostic diagrams, we found that two dominant ionization processes coexist, while the nuclear region (inner 200 pc) is ionized by a low-luminosity AGN, the filamentary structures are consistent with being excited by shocks. The Hα velocity field shows evidence of a rotating disc, which has a velocity amplitude of ∼240 km s−1 at ∼136 pc from the nucleus. Assuming a Keplerian approach, we estimated that the mass inside this radius is 1.9×109 M , which is in agreement with the value obtained through the M–σ relation, MSMBH = 1.8 ± 1.6 × 109M . Modelling the ionized gas velocity field by a rotating disc component plus inflows towards the nucleus along filamentary structures, we obtain a mass inflow rate of ∼0.4 M . This inflow rate is enough to power the central AGNs in NGC 5044.

We use the Gemini Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) to map the stellar kinematics of the inner few hundred parsecs of a sample of 16 nearby Seyfert galaxies, at a spatial resolution of tens of parsecs and spectral resolution of 40 kms−1. We find that the line-of-sight (LOS) velocity fields for most galaxies are well reproduced by rotating disc models. The kinematic position angle (PA) derived for the LOS velocity field is consistent with the large-scale photometric PA. The residual velocities are correlated with the hard X-ray luminosity, suggesting that more luminous active galactic nuclei have a larger impact in the surrounding stellar dynamics. The central velocity dispersion values are usually higher than the rotation velocity amplitude, what we attribute to the strong contribution of bulge kinematics in these inner regions. For 50 per cent of the galaxies, we find an inverse correlation between the velocities and the h3 Gauss–Hermitte moment, implying red wings in the blueshifted side and blue wings in the redshifted side of the velocity field, attributed to the movement of the bulge stars lagging the rotation. Two of the 16 galaxies (NGC 5899 and Mrk 1066) show an S-shape zero velocity line, attributed to the gravitational potential of a nuclear bar. Velocity dispersion (σ) maps show rings of low-σ values (∼50–80 km s−1) for four objects and ‘patches’ of low σ for six galaxies at 150–250 pc from the nucleus, attributed to young/ intermediate age stellar populations.

We present optical integral field spectroscopy of the circum-nuclear gas of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1386. The data cover the central 7″ × 9″ (530 × 680 pc) at a spatial resolution of 0″. 9 (68 pc), and the spectral range 5700–7000 Å at a resolution of 66 km s−1. The line emission is dominated by a bright central component, with two lobes extending ≈3″ north and south of the nucleus. We identify three main kinematic components. The first has low velocity dispersion ( ¯ σ ≈ 90 km s−1), extends over the whole field of view, and has a velocity field consistent with gas rotating in the galaxy disk. We interpret the lobes as resulting from photoionization of disk gas in regions where the active galactic nucleus radiation cones intercept the disk. The second has higher velocity dispersion ( ¯ σ ≈ 200 km s−1) and is observed in the inner 150 pc around the continuum peak. This component is double peaked, with redshifted and blueshifted components separated by ≈500 km s−1. Together with previous Hubble Space Telescope imaging, these features suggest the presence of a bipolar outflow for which we estimate a mass outflow rate of M˙ ≳ 0.1 M⊙ yr−1. The third component is revealed by velocity residuals associated with enhanced velocity dispersion and suggests that outflow and/or rotation is occurring approximately in the equatorial plane of the torus. A second system of velocity residuals may indicate the presence of streaming motions along dusty spirals in the disk.

We present a two-dimensional mapping of the gas flux distributions, as well as of the gas and stellar kinematics in the inner 220 pc of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2110, using K-band integral field spectroscopy obtained with the Gemini Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph at a spatial resolution of ≈24 pc and spectral resolution of ≈40 km s−1. The H2 λ2.1218 μm emission extends over the whole field of view and is attributed to heating by X-rays from the AGN and/or by shocks, while the Brγ emission is restricted to a bipolar region extending along the south-east–north-west direction. The masses of the warm molecular gas and of the ionized gas are MH2 ≈ 1.4 × 103M and MHII ≈ 1.8 × 106M , respectively. The stellar kinematics present velocity dispersions reaching 250 km s−1 and a rotation pattern reaching an amplitude of 200 km s−1. The gas velocity fields present a similar rotation pattern but also additional components that we attribute to inflows and outflows most clearly observed in the molecular gas emission. The inflows are observed beyond the inner 70 pc and are associated with a spiral arm seen in blueshift to the north-east and another in redshift to the south-west. We have estimated a mass inflow rate in warm molecular gas of ≈4.6 × 10−4M yr−1.Within the inner 70 pc, another kinematic component is observed in the H2 emission that can be interpreted as due to a bipolar nuclear outflow oriented along the east–west direction, with a mass outflow rate of ≈4.3 × 10−4M yr−1 in warm H2.

We present near-infrared emission-line flux distributions, excitation and kinematics, as well as stellar kinematics, of the inner 520 × 520 pc2 of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5929. The observations were performed with Gemini’s Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) at a spatial resolution of ∼20 pc and spectral resolution of 40 kms−1 in the J and Kl bands. The flux distributions of H2, [FeII], [P II] and H recombination lines are extended over most of the field of view, with the highest intensity levels observed along PA = 60/240◦, and well correlated with the radio emission. The H2 and [Fe II] line emission originated in thermal processes, mainly due to heating of the gas by X-rays from the central active galactic nucleus (AGN). The contribution of shocks due to the radio jet is observed at locations co-spatial with the radio hotspots at 0.50 arcsec north-east and 0.60 arcsec south-west of the nucleus, as evidenced by the emission-line ratio and gas kinematics. The stellar kinematics shows rotation with an amplitude at 250 pc from the nucleus of ∼200 km s−1 after correcting for the inferred inclination of 18.3◦. The stellar velocity dispersion obtained from the integrated K-band spectrum is σ∗ = 133 ± 8 kms−1, which implies a mass for the supermassive black hole of M• = 5.21.6 −1.2 × 107M , using the M•–σ∗ relation. The gas kinematics present three components: (1) gas in the plane of the galaxy in counter-rotation relative to the stars; (2) an outflow perpendicular to the radio jet that seems to be due to an equatorial AGN outflow; and (3) turbulence of the gas observed in association with the radio hotspots, supporting an interaction of the radio jet with the gas of the disc. We estimated the masses of ionized gas and warm molecular gas to be ∼1.3 × 106M and ∼470M , respectively.

NGC 4258 is the galaxy with the most accurate (maser-based) determination for the mass of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in its nucleus. In this work, we present a two-dimensional mapping of the stellar kinematics in the inner 3.0 arcsec × 3.0 arcsec = 100 pc × 100 pc of NGC 4258 using adaptive-optics observations obtained with the Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph of the Gemini North telescope at an ≈0.11 arcsec (4 pc) angular resolution. The observations resolve the radius of influence of the SMBH, revealing an abrupt increase in the stellar velocity dispersion within ≈10 pc from the nucleus, consistent with the presence of an SMBH there. Assuming that the galaxy nucleus is in a steady state and that the velocity dispersion ellipsoid is aligned with a cylindrical coordinate system, we constructed a Jeans anisotropic dynamical model to fit the observed kinematics distribution. Our dynamical model assumes that the galaxy has axial symmetry and is constructed using the multi-Gaussian expansion method to parametrize the observed surface brightness distribution. The Jeans dynamical model has three free parameters: the mass of the central SMBH (M•), the mass– luminosity ratio ( k = M/L) of the galaxy and the anisotropy of the velocity distribution. We test two types of models: one with constant velocity anisotropy, and another with variable anisotropy. The model that best reproduces the observed kinematics was obtained considering that the galaxy has radially varying anisotropy, being the best-fitting parameters with 3σ significanceM• = 4.8+0.8 −0.9 × 107M and k = 4.1+0.4 −0.5. This value for the mass of the SMBH is just 25 per cent larger than that of the maser determination and 50 per cent larger that a previous stellar dynamical determination obtained via Schwarzschild models for long-slit data that provides an SMBH mass 15 per cent lower than the maser value.

We have mapped the emission-line flux distributions and ratios as well as the gaseous kinematics of the inner 450 pc radius of the type 1 Seyfert galaxy Mrk 766 using integral field near-infrared J- and Kl-band spectra obtained with the Gemini Near Infrared Integral Field Spectrograph at a spatial resolution of 60 pc and velocity resolution of 40 kms-ˡ. Emission-line flux distributions in ionized and molecular gas extend up to≈300 pc from the nucleus. Coronal [S IX] λ1.2523 μm line emission is resolved, being extended up to 150 pc from the nucleus. At the highest flux levels, the [Fe II] λ1.257 μm line emission is most extended to the south-east, where a radio jet has been observed. The emission-line ratios [Fe II] λ1.2570 μm/Paβ and H2λ2.1218 μm/Brγ show a mixture of Starburst and Seyfert excitation; the Seyfert excitation dominates at the nucleus, to the north-west and in an arc-shaped region between 0.2 and 0.6 arcsec to the south-east at the location of the radio jet. A contribution from shocks at this location is supported by enhanced [Fe II]/[P II] line ratios and increased [Fe II] velocity dispersion. The gas velocity field is dominated by rotation that is more compact for H2 than for Paβ, indicating that the molecular gas has a colder kinematics and is located in the galaxy plane. There is about 103 Mʘ of hot H2, implying ≈109 Mʘ of cold molecular gas. At the location of the radio jet, we observe an increase in the [Fe II] velocity dispersion (150 km s-ˡ), as well as both blueshift and redshifts in the channel maps, supporting the presence of an outflow there. The ionized gas mass outflow rate is estimated to be ≈10 Mʘ yr-ˡ, and the power of the outflow ≈0.08 Lbol.

We present emission-line flux distributions and ratios for the inner ≈200 pc of the narrowline region (NLR) of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068, using observations obtained with the Gemini Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) in the J, H and K bands at a spatial resolution of ≈10 pc and spectral resolution of ≈5300. The molecular gas emission – traced by the K-band H2 emission lines – outlines an off-centred circumnuclear ring with a radius of ≈100 pc showing thermal excitation. The ionized gas emission lines show flux distributions mostly outlining the previously known [O III] λ5007 ionization bi-cone. But while the flux distributions in the HI and He II emission lines are very similar to that observed in [OIII], the flux distribution in the [Fe II] emission lines is more extended and broader than a cone close to the nucleus, showing a ‘double bowl’ or ‘hourglass’ structure. This difference is attributed to the fact that the [Fe II] emission, besides coming from the fully ionized region, comes also from the more extended partially ionized regions, in gas excited mainly by X-rays from the active galactic nucleus. A contribution to the [Fe II] emission from shocks along the bi-cone axis to north-east and south-west of the nucleus is also supported by the enhancement of the [Fe II](1.2570 μm)/[P II](1.1885 μm) and [Fe II](1.2570 μm)/Paβ emission-line ratios at these locations and is attributed to the interaction of the radio jet with the NLR. The mass of ionized gas in the inner 200 pc of NGC 1068 is MHII ≈ 2.2 × 10⁴ Mʘ, while the mass of the H2 emitting gas is only MH₂ ≈ 29 Mʘ. Taking into account the dominant contribution of the cold molecular gas, we obtain an estimate of the total molecular gas mass of Mcold ≈ 2× 10⁷ Mʘ.