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

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      We present subarcsecond resolution infrared (IR) imaging and mid-IR (MIR) spectroscopic observations of the Seyfert 1.9 galaxy NGC 2992, obtained with the Gemini North Telescope and the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC). The N-band image reveals faint extended emission out to ˜3 kpc, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features detected in the GTC
      García-Bernete, I. et al.

      Advertised on:

      5
      2015
      Citations
      29
    • BUBBLY: a method for detecting and characterizing interstellar bubbles using Fabry-Perot spectroscopy
      We present a new method for the detection and characterization of expansion in galaxy discs based on Hα Fabry-Perot spectroscopy, taking advantage of the high spatial and velocity resolution of our instrument (GHαFaS). The method analyses multipeaked emission line profiles to find expansion along the line of sight on a point-by-point basis. At this
      Camps-Fariña, A. et al.

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      3
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    • Mass constraints to Sco X-1 from Bowen fluorescence and deep near-infrared spectroscopy
      More than 50 years after the dawn of X-ray astronomy, the dynamical parameters of the prototypical X-ray binary Sco X-1 are still unknown. We combine a Monte Carlo analysis, which includes all the previously known orbital parameters of the system, along with the K-correction to set dynamical constraints to the masses of the compact object (M1 1.73
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      4
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    • 3D kinematics of the near-IR HH 223 outflow in L723
      In this work, we derive the full 3D kinematics of the near-infrared outflow HH 223, located in the dark cloud Lynds 723 (L723), where a well-defined quadrupolar CO outflow is found. HH 223 appears projected on to the two lobes of the east-west CO outflow. The radio continuum source VLA 2, towards the centre of the CO outflow, harbours a multiple
      López, R. et al.

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      3
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    • 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
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      García-Lorenzo, B. et al.

      Advertised on:

      1
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      Citations
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    • Differences between CO- and calcium triplet-derived velocity dispersions in spiral galaxies: evidence for central star formation?
      We examine the stellar velocity dispersions (σ) of a sample of 48 galaxies, 35 of which are spirals, from the Palomar nearby galaxy survey. It is known that for ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) and merger remnants, the σ derived from the near-infrared CO band heads is smaller than that measured from optical lines, while no discrepancy
      Riffel, R. A. et al.

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      1
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    • Nearby supernova host galaxies from the CALIFA Survey. I. Sample, data analysis, and correlation to star-forming regions
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      Galbany, L. et al.

      Advertised on:

      12
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    • 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
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      Advertised on:

      10
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    • The dust masses of powerful radio galaxies: clues to the triggering of their activity
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      Tadhunter, C. et al.

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      11
      2014
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    • Extended warm gas in the ULIRG Mrk273: Galactic outflows and tidal debris
      We present new HST/ACS medium- and narrow-band images and optical Isaac Newton Telescope long-slit spectra of the merging system Mrk273. The HST observations sample the [OIII]λλ4959,5007 emission from the galaxy and the nearby continuum. These data were taken as a part of a larger study of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with the aim of
      Rodríguez Zaurín, J. et al.

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      11
      2014
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    • A mid-infrared view of the inner parsecs of the Seyfert galaxy Mrk 1066 using CanariCam/GTC
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      Ramos Almeida, C. et al.

      Advertised on:

      12
      2014
      Citations
      33
    • Two physical regimes for the giant H II regions and giant molecular clouds in the Antennae galaxies
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      Zaragoza-Cardiel, J. et al.

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      12
      2014
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    • CALIFA: a diameter-selected sample for an integral field spectroscopy galaxy survey
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      9
      2014
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    • Polarized Mid-infrared Synchrotron Emission in the Core of Cygnus A
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      Lopez-Rodriguez, E. et al.

      Advertised on:

      10
      2014
      Citations
      13
    • Molecular line emission in NGC 1068 imaged with ALMA. I. An AGN-driven outflow in the dense molecular gas
      Aims: We investigate the fueling and the feedback of star formation and nuclear activity in NGC 1068, a nearby (D = 14 Mpc) Seyfert 2 barred galaxy, by analyzing the distribution and kinematics of the molecular gas in the disk. We aim to understand if and how gas accretion can self-regulate. Methods: We have used the Atacama Large Millimeter Array
      García-Burillo, S. et al.

      Advertised on:

      7
      2014
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      383
    • The Mice at play in the CALIFA survey. A case study of a gas-rich major merger between first passage and coalescence
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      Wild, V. et al.

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      7
      2014
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      48
    • Kinematic alignment of non-interacting CALIFA galaxies. Quantifying the impact of bars on stellar and ionised gas velocity field orientations
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      Barrera-Ballesteros, J. K. et al.

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      8
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    • Nuclear 11.3 μm PAH emission in local active galactic nuclei
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      Alonso-Herrero, A. et al.

      Advertised on:

      9
      2014
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      78
    • Synapses of active galactic nuclei:. Comparing X-ray and optical classifications using artificial neural networks
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      González-Martín, O. et al.

      Advertised on:

      7
      2014
      Citations
      16
    • Spitzer Mid-IR Spectroscopy of Powerful 2Jy and 3CRR Radio Galaxies. II. AGN Power Indicators and Unification
      It remains uncertain which continuum and emission line diagnostics best indicate the bolometric powers of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), especially given the attenuation caused by the circumnuclear material and the possible contamination by components related to star formation. Here we use mid-IR spectra along with multiwavelength data to
      Dicken, D. et al.

      Advertised on:

      6
      2014
      Citations
      43

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