Program: GS-2004B-Q-13

We propose to undertake a near-infrared kinematic study of nearby galaxies as a GNIRS Key Science Opportunity. The internal stellar kinematics of galaxies have been traditionally measured using optical absorption lines, but these techniques can be unreliable when dust interferes and leads to biased results. We will measure the stellar kinematics using the CO absorption bandhead at 2.3~$\mu$m for a sample of galaxies designed to study a variety of questions. Using wavelengths this long will allow us to observe galaxies that normal kinematic methods select against, to reduce effects from young stellar populations, and to look through the dust to gain a more accurate understanding of the kinematics of these galaxies. We will use these new kinematic measurements to measure central black hole masses, place galaxies on the Fundamental Plane, and examine the process of bulge formation. If we wish to understand how black holes and bulges are grown, we must study galaxies that are actively fueling the central regions. These naturally involve significant dust and so only IR observations will work. This dataset will open up a new avenue for black hole and bulge research.