Star formation and molecular gas in AGN

Authors

• Richard Davies, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
• R. Genzel, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
• L. Tacconi, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
• F. Mueller Sánchez, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
• A. Sternberg, Tel Aviv University

Abstract

We present initial results from a survey of nearby AGN using the near infrared adaptive optics integral field spectrograph SINFONI. These data enable us to probe the distribution and kinematics of the gas and stars at spatial resolutions as small as 0.085”, corresponding in some cases to less than 10 pc. In this contribution we present results concerning (1) the molecular gas in the nucleus of NGC 1068 and its relation to the obscuring torus; and (2) the stars which exist on spatial scales of a few tens of parsecs around the AGN, the evidence for their remarkably young age and extreme intensities, and their relation to the AGN.

Publication Title

Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings

Recommended Citation

Davies, R., Genzel, R., Tacconi, L., Mueller Sánchez, F., & Sternberg, A. (2008). Star formation and molecular gas in AGN. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, 144-149. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-72768-4_21