Grants related:
General
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.
Members
Results
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
Scientific activity
Related publications
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The largely unconstrained multiphase nature of outflows in AGN host galaxiesObservations and simulations show that outflows in active galactic nuclei contain gas in different phases. To understand their true impact on galaxy evolution, we advocate consistent and unbiased investigation of these multiphase winds in large active galactic nuclei samples.Cicone, C. et al.
Advertised on:
32018 -
An UXor among FUors: Extinction-related Brightness Variations of the Young Eruptive Star V582 AurV582 Aur is an FU Ori-type young eruptive star in outburst since ∼1985. The eruption is currently in a relatively constant plateau phase, with photometric and spectroscopic variability superimposed. Here we will characterize the progenitor of the outbursting object, explore its environment, and analyze the temporal evolution of the eruption. We areÁbrahám, P. et al.
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12018 -
Quantifying the AGN-driven outflows in ULIRGs (QUADROS) - I: VLT/Xshooter observations of nine nearby objectsAlthough now routinely incorporated into hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy evolution, the true importance of the feedback effect of the outflows driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) remains uncertain from an observational perspective. This is due to a lack of accurate information on the densities, radial scales and level of dust extinction ofRose, M. et al.
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22018 -
Morpho-kinematic properties of field S0 bulges in the CALIFA surveyWe study a sample of 28 S0 galaxies extracted from the integral field spectroscopic (IFS) survey Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area. We combine an accurate two-dimensional (2D) multicomponent photometric decomposition with the IFS kinematic properties of their bulges to understand their formation scenario. Our final sample is representative ofMéndez-Abreu, J. et al.
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22018 -
A 100 kpc nebula associated with the `Teacup' fading quasarWe report the discovery of an ˜100 kpc ionized nebula associated with the radio-quiet type 2 quasar (QSO2) nicknamed the `Teacup' (z = 0.085). The giant nebula is among the largest known around active galaxies at any z. We propose that it is part of the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of the QSO2 host, which has been populated with tidal debris byVillar-Martín, M. et al.
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22018 -
Mapping diffuse interstellar bands in the local ISM on small scales via MUSE 3D spectroscopy. A pilot study based on globular cluster NGC 6397Context. We map the interstellar medium (ISM) including the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) in absorption toward the globular cluster NGC 6397 using VLT/MUSE. Assuming the absorbers are located at the rim of the Local Bubble we trace structures on the order of mpc (milliparsec, a few thousand AU). Aims: We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility toWendt, M. et al.
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112017 -
ALMA imaging of C2H emission in the disk of NGC 1068Aims: We study the feedback of star formation and nuclear activity on the chemistry of molecular gas in NGC 1068, a nearby (D = 14 Mpc) Seyfert 2 barred galaxy, by analyzing whether the abundances of key molecular species such as ethynyl (C2H), which is a classical tracer of photon dominated regions (PDR), change in the different environments ofGarcía-Burillo, S. et al.
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122017 -
The ESO Diffuse Interstellar Bands Large Exploration Survey (EDIBLES) . I. Project description, survey sample, and quality assessmentThe carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are largely unidentified molecules ubiquitously present in the interstellar medium (ISM). After decades of study, two strong and possibly three weak near-infrared DIBs have recently been attributed to the C60^+ fullerene based on observational and laboratory measurements. There is great promiseCox, N. L. J. et al.
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102017 -
Nuclear obscuration in active galactic nucleiThe material surrounding accreting supermassive black holes connects the active galactic nucleus with its host galaxy and, besides being responsible for feeding the black hole, provides important information on the feedback that nuclear activity produces on the galaxy. In this Review, we summarize our current understanding of the close environmentRamos Almeida, C. et al.
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102017 -
Galaxy-wide radio-induced feedback in a radio-quiet quasarWe report the discovery of a radio-quiet type 2 quasar (SDSS J165315.06+234943.0 nicknamed the `Beetle' at z = 0.103) with unambiguous evidence for active galactic nucleus (AGN) radio-induced feedback acting across a total extension of ˜46 kpc and up to ˜26 kpc from the AGN. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first radio-quiet system whereVillar-Martín, M. et al.
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122017 -
The Wolf-Rayet star population in the dwarf galaxy NGC 625Context. Quantifying the number, type, and distribution of Wolf-Rayet (W-R) stars is a key component in the context of galaxy evolution, since they put constraints on the age of the star formation bursts. Nearby galaxies (distances ≲5 Mpc) are particularly relevant in this context since they fill the gap between studies in the Local Group, whereMonreal-Ibero, A. et al.
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72017 -
Polarization of the changing-look quasar J1011+5442If the disappearance of the broad emission lines observed in changing-look quasars were caused by the obscuration of the quasar core through moving dust clouds in the torus, high linear polarization typical of type 2 quasars would be expected. We measured the polarization of the changing-look quasar J1011+5442 in which the broad emission lines haveHutsemékers, D. et al.
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72017 -
A mid-infrared statistical investigation of clumpy torus model predictionsWe present new calculations of the Clumpy AGN Tori in a 3D geometry (CAT3D) clumpy torus models, which now include a more physical dust sublimation model as well as active galactic nucleus (AGN) anisotropic emission. These new models allow graphite grains to persist at temperatures higher than the silicate dust sublimation temperature. ThisGarcía-González, J. et al.
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92017 -
The infrared to X-ray correlation spectra of unobscured type 1 active galactic nucleiWe use new X-ray data obtained with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), near-infrared (NIR) fluxes and mid-infrared (MIR) spectra of a sample of 24 unobscured type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) to study the correlation between various hard X-ray bands between 3 and 80 keV and the infrared (IR) emission. The IR to X-ray correlationAcosta-Pulido, J. A. et al.
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72017 -
An infrared view of AGN feedback in a type-2 quasar: the case of the Teacup galaxyWe present near-infrared integral field spectroscopy data obtained with Very Large Telescope/Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observations in the Near Infrared (SINFONI) of `the Teacup galaxy'. The nuclear K-band (1.95-2.45 μm) spectrum of this radio-quiet type-2 quasar reveals a blueshifted broad component of FWHM ˜ 1600-1800 km s-1 in the hydrogenRamos Almeida, C. et al.
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92017 -
A comparison between the soft X-ray and [O III] morphologies of active galactic nucleiSeveral studies of nearby active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have shown that the soft X-ray emission presents a size and morphology resembling that of the narrow-line region (NLR) traced by [O III]. Since the NLR is mainly constituted by gas photoionized by the AGN, it seems logical to assume that this is also the primary source of the soft X-rayGómez-Guijarro, Carlos et al.
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82017 -
Uncovering the host galaxy of the γ-ray-emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy FBQS J1644+2619The discovery of γ-ray emission from radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxies has questioned the need for large black hole masses ( ≳ 108 M⊙) to launch relativistic jets. We present near-infrared data of the γ-ray-emitting NLSy1 FBQS J1644+2619 that were collected using the camera CIRCE (Canarias InfraRed Camera Experiment) at the 10.4-mD'Ammando, F. et al.
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72017 -
The complex, dusty narrow-line region of NGC 4388: gas-jet interactions, outflows and extinction revealed by near-IR spectroscopyWe 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 combinedMartins, L. et al.
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22017 -
Hints on the Gradual Resizing of the Torus in AGNs through Decomposition of Spitzer/IRS SpectraSeveral authors have claimed that less luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are not capable of sustaining a dusty torus structure. Thus, a gradual resizing of the torus is expected when the AGN luminosity decreases. Our aim is to examine mid-infrared observations of local AGNs of different luminosities for the gradual resizing and disappearanceGonzález-Martín, Omaira et al.
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52017 -
Survival of the Obscuring Torus in the Most Powerful Active Galactic NucleiDedicated searches generally find a decreasing fraction of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) with increasing AGN luminosity. This has often been interpreted as evidence for a decrease of the covering factor of the AGN torus with increasing luminosity, the so-called receding torus models. Using a complete flux-limited X-ray selected sample ofMateos, S. et al.
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62017
