In this study, we aim to investigate the relation between nuclear activity and the environment for luminous (L[O III] >7.63 × 1041 erg s–1) Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) - that, at these luminosities are classified as quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) - using a sample of 436 type 2 QSOs. Recent studies suggest that there is an excess of interacting hosts in luminous AGN, indicating that interactions trigger the nuclear activity. In order to examine this, it is necessary to select a control sample of non-active galaxies, matched to the active ones by the properties of the host galaxies, such as distance and stellar mass. We present here the results of the search for such a control sample.

Our aim is to explore the close environment of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and its connection to the host galaxy through the morphology and dynamics of the cold gas inside the central kpc in nearby AGN. We report Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of AGN feeding and feedback caught in action in NGC613 and NGC1808 at high resolution (few pc), part of the NUclei of GAlaxies (NUGA) project. We detected trailing spirals inside the central 100 pc, efficiently driving the molecular gas into the SMBH, and molecular outflows driven by the AGN. We present preliminary results of the impact of massive winds induced by radio jets on galaxy evolution, based on observations of radio galaxies from the ALMA Radio-source Catalogue.

We investigate the ionized gas excitation and kinematics in the inner 4.3 × 6.2 kpc2 of the merger radio galaxy 4C +29.30. Using optical integral field spectroscopy with the Gemini North Telescope, we find signatures of gas outflows, including high blueshifts of up to ∼−650 km s−1 observed in a region ∼1″ south of the nucleus, which also presents high velocity dispersion (∼250 km s−1). A possible redshifted counterpart is observed north from the nucleus. We propose that these regions correspond to a bipolar outflow possibly due to the interaction of the radio jet with the ambient gas. We estimate a total ionized gas mass outflow rate of $\[{\dot M_{out}} = 18.1\begin{array}{c} + 8.2\\ - 5.3\end{array}{\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} \]$ with a kinetic power of $\[\dot E = 5.8\begin{array}{c} + 7.6\\ - 2.9\end{array} \times {10^{42}}{\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} \]$, which represents $\[3.9\begin{array}{c} + 5.1\\ - 1.5\end{array}\% \]$ of the AGN bolometric luminosity. These values are higher than usually observed in nearby active galaxies and could imply a significant impact of the outflows on the evolution of the host galaxy.

A proto-cluster core is the most massive dark matter halo (DMH) in a given proto-cluster. To reveal the galaxy formation in core regions, we search for proto-cluster cores at z ˜ 2 in ˜1.5deg2 of the COSMOS field. Using pairs of massive galaxies (log (M*/Mʘ) ≥ 11) as tracers of cores, we find 75 candidate cores. A clustering analysis and the extended Press-Schechter model show that their descendant mass at z = 0 is consistent with Fornax-like or Virgo-like clusters. Moreover, using the IllustrisTNG simulation, we confirm that pairs of massive galaxies are good tracers of DMHs massive enough to be regarded as proto-cluster cores. We then derive the stellar mass function and the quiescent fraction for member galaxies of the 75 candidate cores. We find that stellar mass assembly and quenching are accelerated as early as z ˜ 2 in proto-cluster cores.

The origin of the mysterious multiphase filamentary structures surrounding Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) remains unknown. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations for a sample of 15 BCGs to investigate the origin and life-cycle of the gas. Those observations show clumpy and massive molecular filaments, preferentially located around the radio bubbles inflated by the active galactic nuclei (AGN). We investigate where the cold gas condenses from the intra-cluster medium, by comparing the radial extent of the filaments with predictions from numerical simulations.

Since the advent of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), more attention has been paid on the ≲100 pc scale circumnuclear disk (CND) to reveal feeding and feedback processes of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). By using cold molecular CO and atomic C0 emission line observations, we have revealed that there are multi-component gas dynamical flows around the AGN of the Circinus galaxy, which may explain the physical origin of the AGN torus. In the luminous Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469, we found that [CI](1–0) line is extraordinary bright relative to CO lines (for example J 2−1), manifesting the physical/chemical influence of the AGN on the surrounding gas in the form of X-ray dominated region (XDR).

Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are extremely low luminosity galaxies and some of them seem to have a lack of dark matter. Therefore, they can offer important clues to better understand galaxy formation and evolution. Little is known about UDGs in less dense environments, as most of the known UDGs have been found in very dense regions, in the outskirts of massive galaxies in galaxy clusters. In this work, we present the properties of UDGs candidates identified through visual inspection around the low-density environment of NGC 3115, the closest S0 galaxy from the Milky Way. We have measured the structural parameters of 41 UDGs candidates using images obtained with the Dark Energy Camera at the Blanco Telescope. Such structural parameters will be used to characterise and select the best UDG candidates, that will have their properties traced for future follow-up campaigns.

Much of the evolution of galaxies takes place in groups where feedback has the greatest impact on galaxy formation and evolution. We summarize results from studies of the central brightest group early-type galaxies (BGEs) of an optically selected, statistically complete sample of 53 nearby groups (<80 Mpc; CLoGS sample), observed in radio 235/610 MHz (GMRT), CO (IRAM/APEX) and X-ray (Chandra and XMM-Newton) frequencies. We characterize the radio-AGN population of the BGEs, their group X-ray environment and examine the jet energetics impact on the intra-group gas. We discuss the relation between the radio properties of the BGEs and their group X-ray environment along with the relation between the molecular gas content and the star formation that BGEs present. We conclude that AGN feedback in groups can appear as relatively gentle near-continuous thermal regulation, but also as extreme AGN activity which could potentially shut down cooling for longer periods.

It is generally recognized that massive galaxies form through a combination of in-situ collapse and ex-situ accretion. The in-situ component forms early, where gas collapse and compaction leads to the formation of massive compact systems (blue and red “nuggets”) seen at z > 1. The subsequent accretion of satellites brings in ex-situ material, growing these nuggets in size and mass to appear as the massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) we see locally. Due to stochasticity in the accretion process, in a few rare cases a red nugget will evolve to the present day having undergone little ex-situ mass accretion. The resulting massive, compact and ancient objects have been termed “relic galaxies”. Detailed stellar population and kinematic analyses are required to characterise these systems. However, an additional crucial aspect lies in determining the fraction of ex-situ mass they have accreted since their formation. Globular cluster systems can be used to constrain this fraction, since the oldest and most metal-poor globular clusters in massive galaxies are primarily an accreted, ex-situ population. Models for the formation of relic galaxies and their globular cluster systems suggest that, due to their early compaction and limited accretion of dark-matter dominated satellites, relic galaxies should have characteristically low dark-matter mass fractions compared to ETGs of the same stellar mass.

Gas accretion onto central supermassive black holes of active galaxies and resulting energy feedback, is an important component of galaxy evolution, whose details are still unknown especially at early cosmic epochs. We investigate BH growth and feedback in quasar-host galaxies at z ⩾ 6 by performing cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. We simulate the 2R200 region around a 2 × 1012 Mʘ halo at z = 6, inside a (500 Mpc)3 comoving volume, using the zoom-in technique. We find that BHs accrete gas at the Eddington rate over z = 9–6. At z = 6, our most-massive BH has grown to MBH = 4 × 109 Mʘ. Star-formation is quenched over z = 8–6.

We present spatially resolved kinematics of ionized gas in the narrow-line region (NLR) and extended narrow-line region (ENLR) in a sample of nearby active galaxies. Utilizing long-slit spectroscopy from Apache Point Observatory (APO)13s ARC 3.5 m Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) we analyzed the strong λ5007 Å [O III] emission line profiles and mapped the radial velocity distribution of gas at increasing radii from the center. We identified the extents of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) driven outflows in our sample and determined the distances at which the observed gas kinematics is being dominated by the rotation of the host galaxy. We also measured the effectiveness of radiative driving of the ionized gas using mass distribution profiles calculated with two-dimensional modeling of surface brightness profiles in our targets. Finally, we compared our kinematic results of the outflow sizes with the maximum distances at which the gas is being radiatively driven to investigate whether these outflows are capable of disrupting or evacuating the star-forming gas at these distances.

We use near-infrared Integral Field Unit (IFU) data to analyze the galaxies NGC 4151 and NGC 1068, which have very different Eddington ratios - ˜50 times lower for NGC 4151. Together with a detailed data cube treatment methodology, we reveal remarkable similarities between both AGN, such as the detection of the walls of an “hourglass” structure for the low-velocity [Fe ii] emission with the high-velocity emission within this hourglass; a molecular outflow - detected for the first time in NGC 4151; and the fragmentation of an expanding molecular bubble into bullets of ionized gas. Such observations suggest that NGC 4151 could represent a less powerful and more compact version of the outflow seen in NGC 1068, suggesting a universal feedback mechanism acting in quite different AGN.

We analyzed the inner 320 × 535 pc2 of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1052 with integral field spectroscopy, both in the optical and in the near-infrared (NIR). The stellar population analysis revealed a dominance of old stellar populations from the optical data, and an intermediate-age ring from NIR data. When combining optical+NIR data, optical results were favoured. The emission-line analysis revealed five kinematic components, where two of them are unresolved and probably associated with the active galactic nucleus (AGN), one is associated with large-scale shocks, one with the radio jets, and the last could be explained by either a bipolar outflow, rotation in an eccentric disc or a combination of a disc and large-scale gas bubbles. Our results also indicate that the emission within the galaxy is caused by a combination of shocks and photoionization by the AGN.

Quasar black hole masses are most commonly estimated using broad emission lines in single epoch spectra based on scaling relationships determined from reverberation mapping of small samples of low-redshift objects. Several effects have been identified requiring modifications to these scaling relationships, resulting in significant reductions of the black hole mass determinations at high redshift. Correcting these systematic biases is critical to understanding the relationships among black hole and host galaxy properties. We are completing a program using the Gemini North telescope, called the Gemini North Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS) Distant Quasar Survey (DQS), that has produced rest-frame optical spectra of about 200 high-redshift quasars (z = 1.5–3.5). The GNIRS-DQS will produce new and improved ultraviolet-based black hole mass and accretion rate prescriptions, as well as new redshift prescriptions for velocity zero points of high-z quasars, necessary to measure feedback.

We used Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) long slit medium-resolution G430M and G750M spectra to analyze the extended [O III] λ5007 emission in a sample of twelve QSO2s from Reyes et al. (2008). The purpose of the study was to determine the properties of the mass outflows and their role in AGN feedback. We measured fluxes and velocities as functions of deprojected radial distances. Using photoionization models and ionizing luminosities derived from [O III], we were able to estimate the densities for the emission-line gas. From these results, we derived masses, mass outflow rates, kinetic energies and kinetic luminosity rates as a function of radial distance for each of the targets. Masses are several times 103 - 107 solar masses, which are comparable to values determined from a recent photoionization study of Mrk 34 (Revalski). Additionally, we are studying the possible role of X-ray winds in these QSO2s.

This work aims to explore the different processes of formation and evolution of dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the Local Group analyzing internal and external feedbacks, taking Leo II as a model of parametrization due to its adequate large distance to the Milky Way, in order to minimize potential external effects. We present a discussion of the first results regarding the processes of formation and galactic evolution from the gas hydrodynamics. Combined with previous studies for other similar systems, such results have the potential to establish strong links for the elaboration of a consistent and coherent scenario of formation and evolution of the dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the Local Group.

Galaxy mergers are known to drive an inflow of gas towards galactic centers, potentia- lly leading to both star formation and nuclear activity. In this work we aim to study how a major merger event in the ARP 245 system is linked with the triggering of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) in the NGC galaxy 2992. We employed three galaxy collision numerical simulations and calculated the inflow of gas through four different concentric spherical surfaces around the galactic centers, estimating an upper limit for the luminosity of an AGN being fed the amount of gas crossing the innermost spherical surface. We found that these simulations predict reasonable gas inflow rates when compared with the observed AGN luminosity in NGC 2992.

. Recent works have shown that early-type galaxies (ETGs) are much more complex than early studies suggested. We present early results from a combined analysis of optical spectra and ultraviolet photometry for a sample of 3453 red sequence galaxies in at z < 0.1 that are classified as elliptical by Galaxy Zoo. By measuring the Gini index of the star-formation histories derived by starlight, we investigate the complexity of the mixture of stellar populations required to describe ETGs in our sample. When fitting only optical spectra, starlight assigns more or less the same mixture of stellar populations to all ETGs, while the addition of UV data unveils a bimodallity in the star-formation histories of these galaxies. We find evidence for stellar populations younger than 1 Gyr in 17 per cent of our sample, indicating that some galaxies do not stay permanently quenched after reaching the red sequence.

We present the Catalogue of High REsolution Spectra of Obscured Sources (CHRESOS) from the XMM-Newton Science Archive. It comprises soft X-ray emission-lines from C to Si and the Fe 3C and Fe 3G L-shell transitions. Here, we concentrate on the oxygen emission-lines O VII(f) and O VIII Lyα to shed light onto the physical processes with which their formation can be related to: active galactic nucleus vs. star-forming regions. We are analysing the relationships between the oxygen lines and the luminosities of: [OIII]λ5007, [OIV]25.89μm, MIR-12μm, FIR-60μm, FIR-100μm, and hard X-rays continuum bands.

Understanding active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback is essential for building a coherent picture of the evolution of the super massive black hole and its host galaxy. To that end we have analysed the inner kiloparsec of a sample of 30 local AGN with spatially resolved optical spectroscopy. In this talk I will review the analysis of the ionised gas for the galaxies in our sample, including kinematical maps, emission line ratios and fluxes. The W80 kinematical index is used to trace outflows, and also to provide an estimate for the outflowing velocity. Electron densities, derived from the [S II] ΛΛ6716, 6731Å lines, along with Hα luminosities and the sizes of the outflowing regions are employed in estimates of the outflowing gas mass. We find a median mass outflow rate of Ṁ = 0.3 M⊙ yr-1 and median outflow power of log [P/(erg s-1)] = 40.4.