Gemini NIFS survey of feeding and feedback processes in nearby active galaxies – II. The sample and surface mass density profiles. Issue 1 (6th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Riffel, R. A.; Storchi-Bergmann, T.; Riffel, R.; Davies, R.; Bianchin, M.; Diniz, M. R.; Schönell, A. J.; Burtscher, L.; Crenshaw, M.; Fischer, T. C.; Dahmer-Hahn, L. G.; Dametto, N. Z.; Rosario, D.
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 474:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1373
• Page End: 1389
• Publication Date: 2017-11-06
• Subjects: galaxies: active -- galaxies: nuclei -- infrared: galaxies; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx2857
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

Abstract: We present and characterize a sample of 20 nearby Seyfert galaxies selected for having BAT 14–195 keV luminosities L X ≥ 10 41.5 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 M B, M H, 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 (Σ) profiles for H ii and H2 in their inner ∼500 pc, showing that H ii emission presents a steeper radial gradient than H2 . This can be attributed to the different excitation mechanisms: ionization by AGN radiation for H ii and heating by X-rays for H2 . The mean surface mass densities are in the range (0.2 ≤ Σ H ii ≤ 35.9) M⊙ pc −2, and (0.2 ≤ Σ H 2 ≤ 13.9)× 10 −3 M⊙ pc −2, while the ratios between the H ii 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.