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 diverse cold molecular gas contents, morphologies, and kinematics of type-2 quasars as seen by ALMAWe present CO(2−1) and adjacent continuum observations of seven nearby radio-quiet type-2 quasars (QSO2s) obtained with ALMA at ∼0.2″ resolution (370 pc at z ∼ 0.1). These QSO2s are luminous (L [OIII] > 10 8.5 L ⊙ ∼ M B < −23), and their host galaxies massive (M * ∼ 10 11 M ⊙). The CO morphologies are diverse, including disks and interactingRamos Almeida, C. et al.
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22022 -
Do AGN triggering mechanisms vary with radio power? - II. The importance of mergers as a function of radio power and optical luminosityInvestigation of the triggering mechanisms of radio active galactic nuclei (radio AGN) is important for improving our general understanding of galaxy evolution. In the first paper in this series, detailed morphological analysis of high-excitation radio galaxies (HERGs) with intermediate radio powers suggested that the importance of triggering viaPierce, J. C. S. et al.
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22022 -
CO kinematics unveil outflows plausibly driven by a young jet in the gigahertz peaked radio core of NGC 6328We report the detection of outflowing molecular gas in the center of the nearby (z = 0.014) massive radio galaxy NGC 6328. The radio core of the galaxy, PKS B1718-649, is identified as a gigahertz peaked spectrum source with a compact (2 pc) double radio lobe morphology. We used ALMA CO(2-1) and CO(3-2) observations at 100 pc resolution to studyPapachristou, Michalis et al.
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112021 -
Black hole feeding and star formation in NGC 1808We report on Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observations of CO(3−2) emission in the Seyfert2/starburst galaxy NGC 1808, at a spatial resolution of 4 pc. Our aim is to investigate the morphology and dynamics of the gas inside the central 0.5 kpc and to probe the nuclear feeding and feedback phenomena. We discovered a nuclear spiral of radiusAudibert, A. et al.
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112021 -
Modeling the Unresolved NIR-MIR SEDs of Local (z < 0.1) QSOsTo study the nuclear (≲1 kpc) dust of nearby (z < 0.1) quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), we obtained new near-infrared (NIR) high angular resolution (~0.″3) photometry in the H and Ks bands for 13 QSOs with available mid-infrared (MIR) high angular resolution spectroscopy (~7.5-13.5 μm). We find that in most QSOs, the NIR emission is unresolved. WeMartínez-Paredes, M. et al.
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122021 -
Capturing dual AGN activity and kiloparsec-scale outflows in IRAS 20210+1121The most standard scenario for the evolution of massive galaxies across cosmic time assumes a correspondence based on the interplay between active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback, which injects large amounts of energy into the host environment, and galaxy mergers, with their ability to trigger massive star formation events and accretion ontoSaturni, F. G. et al.
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102021 -
The MURALES survey. IV. Searching for nuclear outflows in 3C radio galaxies at z < 0.3 with MUSE observationsWe analyze VLT/MUSE observations of 37 radio galaxies from the Third Cambridge catalogue (3C) with redshift < 0.3 searching for nuclear outflows of ionized gas. These observations are part of the MURALES project (a MUse RAdio Loud Emission line Snapshot survey), whose main goal is to explore the feedback process in the most powerful radio-loud AGNSperanza, G. et al.
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92021 -
The dust-gas AGN torus as constrained from X-ray and mid-infrared observationsContext. In recent decades, several multiwavelength studies have been dedicated to exploring the properties of the obscuring material in active galactic nuclei (AGN). Various models have been developed to describe the structure and distribution of this material and constrain its physical and geometrical parameters through spectral fittingEsparza-Arredondo, D. et al.
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72021 -
The Galaxy Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS). II. Torus and polar dust emission in nearby Seyfert galaxiesWe compare high angular resolution mid-infrared (mid-IR) and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) far-infrared (far-IR) images of twelve nearby (median 21 Mpc) Seyfert galaxies selected from the Galaxy Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS). The mid-IR unresolved emission contributes more than 60% of the nuclear (diameters of 1Alonso-Herrero, A. et al.
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82021 -
The Galaxy Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS). I. ALMA images of dusty molecular tori in Seyfert galaxiesWe present the first results of the Galaxy Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS), a project aimed at understanding the properties of the dusty molecular tori and their connection to the host galaxy in nearby Seyfert galaxies. Our project expands the range of active galactic nuclei (AGN) luminosities and Eddington ratios covered by previousGarcía-Burillo, S. et al.
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82021 -
The origin of bulges and discs in the CALIFA survey - I. Morphological evolutionThis series of papers aims at understanding the formation and evolution of non-barred disc galaxies. We use the new spectro-photometric decomposition code, C2D, to separate the spectral information of bulges and discs of a statistically representative sample of galaxies from the CALIFA survey. Then, we study their stellar population propertiesMéndez-Abreu, J. et al.
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62021 -
Composite bulges - II. Classical bulges and nuclear discs in barred galaxies: the contrasting cases of NGC 4608 and NGC 4643We present detailed morphological, photometric, and stellar-kinematic analyses of the central regions of two massive, early-type barred galaxies with nearly identical large-scale morphologies. Both have large, strong bars with prominent inner photometric excesses that we associate with boxy/peanut-shaped (B/P) bulges; the latter constitute ∼30 perErwin, Peter et al.
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42021 -
Galaxies within galaxies in the TIMER survey: stellar populations of inner bars are scaled replicas of main barsInner bars are frequent structures in the local Universe and thought to substantially influence the nuclear regions of disc galaxies. In this study we explore the structure and dynamics of inner bars by deriving maps and radial profiles of their mean stellar population content and comparing them to previous findings in the context of main bars. ToBittner, Adrian et al.
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22021 -
Space Telescope and Optical Reverberation Mapping Project. IX. Velocity-Delay Maps for Broad Emission Lines in NGC 5548In this contribution, we achieve the primary goal of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) STORM campaign by recovering velocity-delay maps for the prominent broad emission lines (Lyα, C IV, He II, and Hβ) in the spectrum of NGC 5548. These are the most detailed velocity-delay maps ever obtained for an AGN, providing unprecedented information on theHorne, Keith et al.
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22021 -
Integral Field Spectroscopy of Planetary Nebulae with MUSEThe Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) is a large integral field unit mounted on the ESO Very Large Telescope. Its spatial (60 arcsecond field) and wavelength (4800-9300Å) coverage is well suited to detailed imaging spectroscopy of extended planetary nebulae, such as in the Galaxy. An overview of the capabilities of MUSE applied to PlanetaryWalsh, Jeremy R. et al.
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42020 -
The complex multi-component outflow of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7130Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are a key ingredient for understanding galactic evolution, as their activity is coupled to the host galaxy properties through feedback processes. AGN-driven outflows are one of the manifestations of this feedback. The laser guide star adaptive optics mode for MUSE at the VLT now permits us to study the innermost tens ofComerón, S. et al.
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12021 -
Multiphase feedback processes in the Sy2 galaxy NGC 5643We study the multiphase feedback processes in the central ∼3 kpc of the barred Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5643. We used observations of the cold molecular gas (ALMA CO(2-1) transition) and ionized gas (MUSE IFU optical emission lines). We studied different regions along the outflow zone, which extends out to ∼2.3 kpc in the same direction (east-west) asGarcía-Bernete, I. et al.
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12021 -
Searching for molecular gas inflows and outflows in the nuclear regions of five Seyfert galaxiesActive galactic nucleus (AGN) driven outflows are believed to play an important role in regulating the growth of galaxies, mostly via negative feedback. However, their effects on their hosts are far from clear, especially for low- and moderate-luminosity Seyferts. To investigate this issue, we obtained cold molecular gas observations, traced by theDomínguez-Fernández, A. J. et al.
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112020 -
Stellar populations and physical properties of starbursts in the antennae galaxy from self-consistent modelling of MUSE spectraWe have modelled the stellar and nebular continua and emission-line intensity ratios of massive stellar populations in the Antennae galaxy using high resolution and self-consistent libraries of model H II regions around central clusters of ageing stars. The model libraries are constructed using the stellar population synthesis code, STARBURST99Gunawardhana, M. L. P. et al.
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82020 -
Cold molecular gas and PAH emission in the nuclear and circumnuclear regions of Seyfert galaxiesWe investigate the relation between the detection of the 11.3 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature in the nuclear (∼24-230 pc) regions of 22 nearby Seyfert galaxies and the properties of the cold molecular gas. For the former we use ground-based (0.3-0.6″ resolution) mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectroscopy. The cold molecular gas is tracedAlonso-Herrero, A. et al.
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72020
