Nuclear Activity in Galaxies: a 3D Perspective from the Nucleus to the Outskirts

    General
    Description

    This project consists of two main research lines. First, the study of quasar-driven outflows in luminous and nearby obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) and the impact that they have on their massive host galaxies (AGN feedback). To do so, we have obtained Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) infrared and optical observations with the instruments CanariCam, EMIR and MEGARA, as well as with ALMA in the sub-mm/mm regime. Part of this project is being done within the framework of the H2020 Innovative Training Network BID4BEST. The group is also devoted to obtain and exploit observing time with the JWST and ALMA as part of the GATOS consortium (Galactic Activity, Torus and Outflow Survey) with the aim of characterizing nuclear obscuration and the gas flow cycle in local AGN. Second, the application of integral field spectroscopy to the study of extended objects (active and star forming galaxies) to investigate the triggering of both phenomena. We also contribute to the development of new instruments and data analysis procedures related to 3D observing techniques. In particular, we participate in the development of HARMONI, the first-light high-spatial resolution integral field spectrograph for the ESO Extremely Large Telescope.

    Principal investigator
    Project staff
    1. Publication of a letter in MNRAS in which we studied the interplay between the ionized gas winds and the young stellar populations in the type-2 quasar Mrk 34 (Bessiere & Ramos Almeida 2022). We find evidence of positive and negative feedback happening in different parts of the same galaxy, induced by the ionized outflow. This study, part of the QSOFEED project, opens a new window to investigate the direct impact of nuclear activity on star formation in galaxies.

    2. Publication of a detailed study of the ionized and warm molecular gas kinematics in the type-2 quasar J0945+1737, part of the QSOFEED sample (Speranza et al. 2022). We reported measurements of an ionized outflow with a maximum outflow rate of 51 Msun/yr, and lack of its warm molecular counterpart.

    3. The European Network H2020-ITN-2019 "Big Data Applications for Black Hole Evolution Studies" (BID4BEST) started on March, 1st 2020 (end date Feb, 28th 2024). PhD student Giovanna Speranza started her contract at the IAC in September 2020.

    4. The total budget awarded to this project through external funding sources corresponds to 1.152.000 euros (452.000 euros - PI: C. Ramos & 700.000 euros - PI: B. García). This only includes projects starting in or after 2020, and most of the funding has been invested in hiring new researchers. Currently we are the IAC group with larger female participation.

    5. Publication of the two first papers based on the GATOS sample (García-Burillo et al. 2021; Alonso-Herrero et al. 2021). The GATOS collaboration was awarded two JWST proposals in Cycle 1, led by D. Rosario (University of Newcastle, UK) and T. Shimizu (MPE, Germany).

    6. Publication of a study of the morphology and kinematics of the cold molecular in a sample of type-2 quasars (QSO2s) at z=0.1 (Ramos Almeida et al. 2022). The study is based on data from the ALMA interferometer in the mm range, and it is part of the QSOFEED project.

    7. Publication of the work García-Lorenzo et al. (2022), which presents an analysis of the capabilities of HARMONI to reveal the stellar morpho-kinematic properties of the host galaxies of AGNs at cosmic noon.

    Related publications

    VLT FORS2 optical imaging and spectroscopy of nine luminous type 2 AGN at 0.3 < z < 0.6 - I. Ionized gas nebulae 2015MNRAS.454.4452H
    A deep look at the nuclear region of UGC 5101 through high angular resolution mid-IR data with GTC/CanariCam 2015MNRAS.454.3577M
    Sub-arcsec mid-IR observations of NGC 1614: Nuclear star formation or an intrinsically X-ray weak AGN? 2015MNRAS.454.3679P
    Tracing kinematic (mis)alignments in CALIFA merging galaxies. Stellar and ionized gas kinematic orientations at every merger stage 2015A&A...582A..21B
    Deconstructing the narrow-line region of the nearest obscured quasar 2015MNRAS.454..439V
    Near-infrared polarimetric adaptive optics observations of NGC 1068: a torus created by a hydromagnetic outflow wind 2015MNRAS.452.1902L
    Central star formation and metallicity in CALIFA interacting galaxies 2015A&A...579A..45B
    Comparative internal kinematics of the H II regions in interacting and isolated galaxies: implications for massive star formation modes 2015MNRAS.451.1307Z
    Nuclear obscuration in LINERs. Clues from Spitzer/IRS spectra on the Compton thickness and the existence of the dusty torus 2015A&A...578A..74G
    The stellar spectral features of nearby galaxies in the near infrared: tracers of thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars? 2015MNRAS.450.3069R
    CALIFA, the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area survey. III. Second public data release 2015A&A...576A.135G
    Resolving the AGN and Host Emission in the Mid-infrared using a Model-independent Spectral Decomposition 2015ApJ...803..109H
    The Differences in the Torus Geometry between Hidden and Non-hidden Broad Line Active Galactic Nuclei 2015ApJ...803...57I
    Bar pattern speeds in CALIFA galaxies. I. Fast bars across the Hubble sequence 2015A&A...576A.102A
    The Nuclear Near-Infrared Spectral Properties of Nearby Galaxies 2015ApJS..217...13M
    The nuclear and extended infrared emission of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992 and the interacting system Arp 245 2015MNRAS.449.1309G
    BUBBLY: a method for detecting and characterizing interstellar bubbles using Fabry-Perot spectroscopy 2015MNRAS.447.3840C
    Mass constraints to Sco X-1 from Bowen fluorescence and deep near-infrared spectroscopy 2015MNRAS.449L...1M
    3D kinematics of the near-IR HH 223 outflow in L723 2015MNRAS.447.2588L
    Ionized gas kinematics of galaxies in the CALIFA survey. I. Velocity fields, kinematic parameters of the dominant component, and presence of kinematically distinct gaseous systems 2015A&A...573A..59G
    Differences between CO- and calcium triplet-derived velocity dispersions in spiral galaxies: evidence for central star formation? 2015MNRAS.446.2823R
    Nearby supernova host galaxies from the CALIFA Survey. I. Sample, data analysis, and correlation to star-forming regions 2014A&A...572A..38G
    Near- to mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of two buried AGNs of the nearby merging galaxy NGC 6240 with Subaru/IRCS+AO and GTC/CanariCam 2014PASJ...66...93M
    The dust masses of powerful radio galaxies: clues to the triggering of their activity 2014MNRAS.445L..51T
    Extended warm gas in the ULIRG Mrk273: Galactic outflows and tidal debris 2014A&A...571A..57R
    A mid-infrared view of the inner parsecs of the Seyfert galaxy Mrk 1066 using CanariCam/GTC 2014MNRAS.445.1130R
    Two physical regimes for the giant H II regions and giant molecular clouds in the Antennae galaxies 2014MNRAS.445.1412Z
    CALIFA: a diameter-selected sample for an integral field spectroscopy galaxy survey 2014A&A...569A...1W
    Polarized Mid-infrared Synchrotron Emission in the Core of Cygnus A 2014ApJ...793...81L
    Molecular line emission in NGC 1068 imaged with ALMA. I. An AGN-driven outflow in the dense molecular gas 2014A&A...567A.125G
    The Mice at play in the CALIFA survey. A case study of a gas-rich major merger between first passage and coalescence 2014A&A...567A.132W
    Kinematic alignment of non-interacting CALIFA galaxies. Quantifying the impact of bars on stellar and ionised gas velocity field orientations 2014A&A...568A..70B
    Nuclear 11.3 μm PAH emission in local active galactic nuclei 2014MNRAS.443.2766A
    Synapses of active galactic nuclei:. Comparing X-ray and optical classifications using artificial neural networks 2014A&A...567A..92G
    Spitzer Mid-IR Spectroscopy of Powerful 2Jy and 3CRR Radio Galaxies. II. AGN Power Indicators and Unification 2014ApJ...788...98D
    Investigating the sensitivity of observed spectral energy distributions to clumpy torus properties in Seyfert galaxies 2014MNRAS.439.3847R
    A characteristic oxygen abundance gradient in galaxy disks unveiled with CALIFA 2014A&A...563A..49S
    The effects of spatial resolution on integral field spectrograph surveys at different redshifts - The CALIFA perspective 2014A&A...561A.129M
    The circumnuclear environment of NGC 613: a nuclear starburst caught in the act? 2014MNRAS.438..329F
    Clear evidence for the early triggering of a luminous quasar-like active galactic nuclei in a major, gas-rich merger 2014MNRAS.438.1839B

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