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We study the kinematics and excitation mechanisms of H2 and [Fe ii] lines in a sample of 67 emission-line galaxies with Infrared Telescope Facility SpeX near-infrared (0.8–2.4 μm) spectroscopy together with new photoionization models. H2 emission lines are systematically narrower than narrow-line region lines, suggesting that the two are, very likely, kinematically disconnected. The new models and emission-line ratios show that the thermal excitation plays an important role not only in active galactic nuclei but also in star-forming galaxies. The importance of the thermal excitation in star-forming galaxies may be associated with the presence of supernova remnants close to the region emitting H2 lines. This hypothesis is further supported by the similarity between vibrational and rotational temperatures of H2. We confirm that the diagram involving the line ratios H2 2.121 μm/Brγ and [Fe ii] 1.257 μm/Paβ is an efficient tool for separating emission-line objects according to their dominant types of activities. We suggest new limits to the line ratios in order to discriminate between the different types of nuclear activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ Infrared Telescope Facility SpeX near-infrared (NIR; 0.8–2.4 μm) spectra to investigate the stellar population (SP), active galactic nuclei (AGN) featureless continuum (FC) and hot dust properties in nine Sy 1 and 15 Sy 2 galaxies. Both thestarlight code and the hot dust as an additional base element were used for the first time in this spectral range. We found evidence of correlation among the equivalent widths Si i 1.59 μm × Mg i 1.58 μm, equally for both kinds of activity. Part of the and strengths may be related to galaxy inclination. Our synthesis shows significant differences between Sy 1 and Sy 2 galaxies: the hot dust component is required to fit the K-band spectra of ∼90 per cent of the Sy 1 galaxies, and only of ∼25 per cent of the Sy 2; about 50 per cent of the Sy 2 galaxies require an FC component contribution ≳20 per cent, while this fraction increases to about 60 per cent in the Sy 1; also, in about 50 per cent of the Sy2, the combined FC and young components contribute with more than 20 per cent, while this occurs in 90 per cent of the Sy1, suggesting recent star formation in the central region. The central few hundred parsec of our galaxy sample contain a substantial fraction of intermediate-age SPs with a mean metallicity near solar. Our SP synthesis confirms that the 1.1 μm CN band can be used as a tracer of intermediate-age SPs. The simultaneous fitting of SP, FC and hot dust components increased in ∼150 per cent the number of AGNs with hot dust detected and the mass estimated. The NIR emerges as an excellent window to study the SP of Sy 1 galaxies, as opposed to the usually heavily attenuated optical range. Our approach opens a new way to investigate and quantify the individual contribution of the three most important NIR continuum components observed in AGNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an observational study about the effects of the interactions in the kinematics, stellar population and abundances of the components of the galaxy pair AM 2306-721. Rotation curves for the main and companion galaxies were obtained, showing a deprojected velocity amplitude of 175 and 185 km s−1, respectively. The interaction between the main and companion galaxies was modelled using numerical N-body/hydrodynamical simulations, with the result indicating that the current stage of the merger would be about 250 Myr after perigalacticum. The spatial variation in the distribution of the stellar-population components in both galaxies was analysed by fitting combinations of stellar-population models of different age groups. The central region of main galaxy is dominated by an old (5–10 Gyr) population, while significant contributions from a young (200 Myr) and intermediate (1 Gyr) components are found in the disc, and being enhanced in the direction of the tidal features. The stellar population of the companion galaxy is overall much younger, being dominated by components with 1 Gyr or less, quite widely spread over the whole disc. Spatial profiles of the oxygen abundance were obtained from a grid of photoionization models using the R23 line ratio. The disc of the main galaxy shows a clear radial gradient, while the companion galaxy presents oxygen abundance relatively homogeneous across the disc. The absence of an abundance gradient in the secondary galaxy is interpreted in terms of mixing by gas flows from the outer parts to the centre of the galaxy due to the gravitational interaction with the more massive primary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared spectroscopy is used to study the kinematics and excitation mechanisms of H2 and [Fe ii] lines in a sample dominated by Seyfert 2 galaxies. The spectra simultaneously cover the JHK bands, allowing us to compare line fluxes emitted in the interval 0.8–2.4 μm and avoiding aperture and seeing effects. The H2 lines are systematically narrower than the narrow-line region lines, suggesting that, very likely, the H2 does not originate from the same parcel of gas that forms the narrow-line region. Emission-line ratios between H2 lines favour thermal excitation mechanisms for the molecular gas in active galactic nuclei. It was found that non-thermal excitation contributes, at most, 30 per cent of the observed H2. Thermal excitation is also confirmed by the rather similar vibrational and rotational temperatures in the objects (∼2000 K). The mass of hot H2 ranges from 102 to 103 , with nearly half of objects showing values of . It shows that the fraction of molecular mass present in the nuclear region and emitting in the near-infrared is a very small fraction of the warm molecular mass present in the centre. A diagnostic diagram composed of the line ratios H2/Brγ and [Fe ii]/Paβ proves to be a useful tool in the near-infrared for separating emission-line objects by their degree of nuclear activity. We found that active galactic nuclei are characterized by H2 2.121 μm/Brγ and [Fe ii] 1.257 μm/Paβ flux ratios between 0.6 and 2. Starburst/H ii galaxies display line ratios <0.6 while low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions are characterized by values larger than 2 in either ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]