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We analyse optical data cubes of the inner kiloparsec of 30 local (z ≤ 0.02) active galactic nucleus (AGN) hosts that our research group, AGNIFS, has collected over the past decade via observations with the integral field units of the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs. Spatial resolutions range between 50 and 300 pc and spectral coverage is from 4800 or 5600 to 7000 Å, at velocity resolutions of ≈50  |$\rm ~km~s^{-1}$|⁠. We derive maps of the gas excitation and kinematics, and determine the AGN ionization axis – which has random orientation relative to the galaxy – and the kinematic major axes of the emitting gas. We find that rotation dominates the gas kinematics in most cases, but is disturbed by the presence of inflows and outflows. Outflows have been found in 21 nuclei, usually along the ionization axis. The gas velocity dispersion is traced by W 80 (velocity width encompassing 80 per cent of the line flux), adopted as a tracer of outflows. In seven sources, W 80 is enhanced perpendicularly to the ionization axis, indicating lateral expansion of the outflow. We have estimated mass-outflow rates |$\dot{M}$| and powers |$\dot{E}$|⁠ , finding median values of |$\log \, [\dot{M}/({\rm \, M_\odot \, yr^{-1}})]=-2.1_{-1.0}^{+1.6}$| and |$\log \, [\dot{E}/({\rm \, erg\, s^{-1}})]=38.5_{-0.9}^{+1.8}$|⁠ , respectively. Both quantities show a mild correlation with the AGN luminosity (L AGN). |$\dot{E}$| is of the order of 0.01 L AGN for four sources, but much lower for the majority (nine) of the sources, with a median value of |$\log \, [\dot{E}/L_{\rm AGN} ]=-5.34_{-0.9}^{+3.2}$|⁠ , indicating that typical outflows in the local Universe are unlikely to significantly impact their host galaxy evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galaxy mergers are central to our understanding of galaxy formation, especially within the context of hierarchical models. Besides having a large impact on the star formation history, mergers are also able to influence gas motions at the centre of galaxies and trigger an active galactic nucleus (AGN). In this paper, we present a case study of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992, which together with NGC 2993 forms the early-stage merger system Arp 245. Using Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph integral field unit data from the inner 1.1 kpc of the galaxy, we were able to spatially resolve the stellar populations, the ionization mechanism, and kinematics of ionized gas. From full spectral synthesis, we found that the stellar population is primarily composed by old metal-rich stars (t ≥ 1.4 Gyr, Z ≥ 2.0 Z⊙), with a contribution of at most 30 per cent of the light from a young and metal-poor population (t ≤ 100 Myr, Z ≤ 1.0 Z⊙). We detect H α and H β emission from the broad-line region with a full width at half-maximum of ∼2000  |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠. The narrow-line region kinematics presents two main components: one from gas orbiting the galaxy disc and a blueshifted (velocity ≈ −200  |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠) outflow, possibly correlated with the radio emission, with mass outflow rate of ∼2 M⊙ yr−1 and a kinematic power of ∼2 × 1040 erg s−1 (⁠|$\dot{E}_{\mathrm{ out}}$| / L bol ≈ 0.2 per cent). We also show even though the main ionization mechanism is the AGN radiation, ionization by young stars and shocks may also contribute to the emission line ratios presented in the innermost region of the galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on our combined analysis of HST , VLT/MUSE, VLT/SINFONI, and ALMA observations of the local Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 5728 to investigate in detail the feeding and feedback of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). The data sets simultaneously probe the morphology, excitation, and kinematics of the stars, ionized gas, and molecular gas over a large range of spatial scales (10 pc to 10 kpc). NGC 5728 contains a large stellar bar that is driving gas along prominent dust lanes to the inner 1 kpc where the gas settles into a circumnuclear ring. The ring is strongly star forming and contains a substantial population of young stars as indicated by the lowered stellar velocity dispersion and gas excitation consistent with H  ii regions. We model the kinematics of the ring using the velocity field of the CO (2–1) emission and stars and find it is consistent with a rotating disc. The outer regions of the disc, where the dust lanes meet the ring, show signatures of inflow at a rate of 1 M |$\odot$|  yr−1. Inside the ring, we observe three molecular gas components corresponding to the circular rotation of the outer ring, a warped disc, and the nuclear stellar bar. The AGN is driving an ionized gas outflow that reaches a radius of 250 pc with a mass outflow rate of 0.08 M |$\odot$|  yr−1 consistent with its luminosity and scaling relations from previous studies. While we observe distinct holes in CO emission which could be signs of molecular gas removal, we find that largely the AGN is not disrupting the structure of the circumnuclear region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a high-resolution observational study of feeding and feedback processes occurring in the vicinity of the active galactic nucleus in 40 galaxies, we observed the inner 3 |${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$| 5 × 5 arcsec of the nearby spiral and Seyfert 2 galaxy UGC 2024 with the integral field unit of the Gemini-South Telescope. The observations enabled a study of the stellar and gas kinematics in this region at a spatial resolution of 0 |${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$| 5 (218 pc), and a spectral resolution of 36  km s−1 over the wavelength range 4100–7300 Å. For the strongest emission-lines (H  β , [ |$\rm{O\,{\small III}}$| ] λ5007 Å, H  α , [ |$\rm{N\,{\small II}}$| ] λ6584 Å, and [ |$\rm{S\,{\small II}}$| ] λλ6717,6731 Å) we derived maps of the flux, radial velocity, and velocity dispersion. The flux distribution and kinematics of the [ |$\rm{O\,{\small III}}$| ] emission line are roughly symmetric around the nucleus: the radial velocity is close to systemic over the full field of view. The kinematics of the other strong emission lines trace both this systemic velocity component, and ordered rotation (with kinematic centre 0 |${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$| 2 north-west of the nucleus). The stellar continuum morphology and kinematics are, however, asymmetrical around the nucleus. We interpret these unusual kinematics as the superposition of a component of gas rotating in the galaxy disc plus a 'halo' component of highly ionized gas. This halo either traces a quasi-spherical fountain with average radial velocity 200 km s−1, in which case the total nuclear outflow mass and momentum are 2 × 105 M⊙ and 4 × 107 M⊙ km s−1, respectively, or a dispersion supported halo created by a past nuclear starburst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]