Abstract
We investigate the kinematic properties of the stars and ionised gas in the circumnuclear regions of a matched sample of nearby Seyfert and non-active galaxies, using the SAURON Integral-Field Unit (IFU) on the William Herschel Telescope (WHT). In both active and non-active galaxies, the stellar velocity fields present regular rotation patterns. After removal of the non-gravitational components due to nuclear activity (e.g., AGN-driven outflows) in the case of the Seyfert galaxies, the ionised gas kinematics in both populations is dominated by rotation. The non-active galaxies present a global alignment between stellar and gaseous kinematics while majority of Seyfert galaxies present strong kinematics misalignments between the two components. A more refined analysis of our two-dimensional kinematics maps reveal evidence for deviations from axial-symmetry in the gaseous velocity fields. These deviations are moreover stronger in the case of Seyfert galaxies than their associated non-active galaxies. This result suggests the presence of weak dynamical perturbations in the circumnuclear regions of Seyfert galaxies and provides a tentative link between nuclear activity and the host galaxy dynamics in these regions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 908-911 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Astronomische Nachrichten |
Volume | 329 |
Issue number | 9-10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2008 |
Keywords
- Galaxies: active
- Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics
- Galaxies: Seyfert
- ISM: kinematics and dynamics
- Stars: kinematics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science