Program: GS-2013A-Q-56

Title:Mapping sub-kpc gas flows in a sample of nearby, hard X-ray selected AGNs.
PI:Davide Lena
Co-I(s): Rogemar André Riffel, Andrew Robinson, Trent Seelig, Thaisa Storchi-Bergmann

Abstract

We propose GMOS IFU emission-line spectroscopy of the gas within the inner kiloparsec of the nearby active galaxies MCG -06-30-15, NGC5728, MCG -05-23-016 and NGC3783. This is part of a program of optical and NIR IFU spectroscopy to map the kinematics and excitation conditions of the circum-nuclear gas in a complete, distance limited sample of hard-x ray selected active galaxies. Our main goal is to study AGN "feeding" and "feedback" processes on sub-kiloparsec scales for a range of activity types and luminosities. The present proposal focuses on a high luminosity subset of our sample. The proposed observations will map the kinematics and ionization structure of the circumnclear gas on scales ~50 pc. We will use the [OIII] emission lines to map the outflowing gas and Halpha emission to look for inflows associated with the dust lanes extending inwards. We will estimate mass inflow and outflow rates from the data and, with this information for the sample as a whole, combining the results from our earlier studies, we will be able to relate mass outflow rates to inflows rates and the accretion power providing important constraints on the overall mass-energy budget of the SMBH growth phase.

Publications using this program's data