Program: GN-2016A-Q-6

A fundamental role is attributed to supermassive black holes (SMBH), and the feedback they generate, in the evolution of galaxies. But theoretical models trying to reproduce the present day galaxy mass function and the relation between the SMBH mass and stellar velocity dispersion of the galaxy bulge make broad assumptions regarding both the SMBH feeding and feedback processes. The prescriptions used are poorly constrained by observations. To provide the much needed guidance on the relevant physical processes, which occur when the SMBH is being fed via mass accretion in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), we propose a Large Program (80 hours spread over 6-8 semesters) to answer the specific questions: (i) How much mass is available for accretion, what mechanisms bring gas to the environs of the SMBH and what are the mass inflow rates? (ii) How do outflows interact with the interstellar medium, what are the mass outflow rates and kinetic power? Can the outflows strip the ISM away from around the BH? (iii) What is the role of star formation in the process? Can we find signatures of recent star formation in the vicinity of the AGN - a signature of co-evolution of the bulge and SMBH? In order to answer these questions - at the needed spatial resolution and covering both molecular and ionized gas phases - we propose to use NIFS +ALTAIR to observe the inner few hundred parsecs of a complete, distance-limited sample of nearby bright AGN selected from the Swift-BAT AGN catalog.