O foco deste trabalho é estudar a influência de buracos negros supermassivos (BNSs) nucleares na dinâmica e na cinemática estelar da região central das galáxias e determinar a massa destes BNSs. Assumindo que a função de distribuição (DF) que descreve a dinâmica da galáxia depende de duas integrais de movimento (f = f(E;Lz), onde E é a energia do sistema e Lz é a componente z do momento angular), construiu-se um modelo dinâmico de Jeans anisotrópico para reproduzir as distribuições de velocidades estelares observadas nas regiões centrais das galáxias ativas NGC4258 e NGC1052. A cinemática estelar das galáxias foi obtida através de observações espectroscópicas na banda-K do infravermelho próximo realizadas com o instrumento NIFS (Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph) no telescópio GEMINI Norte, e mostram que a distribuição de velocidades na região nuclear, em particular dentro do raio de influência do BNS, é dominada por uma alta dispersão de velocidades. Esta observação é consistente com a hipótese da presença de BNSs. Foram usadas imagens no infravermelho próximo obtidas com os instrumentos NICMOS (Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer) a bordo do HST (Hubble Space Telescope) e do 2MASS (Two Micron All-Sky Survey) para construir modelos de expansão multi-gaussiana (MGE) para parametrizar a distribuição superficial de brilho das galáxias. A partir destes modelos MGE foi possível obter as distribuições de matéria e os potenciais gravitacionais das galáxias. A estes potenciais adicionou-se o potencial de uma fonte pontual representando o BNS central. Estes pares potencial-densidade descritos como funções gaussianas bidimensionais foram então usados para resolver as equações de Jeans semi-isotrópicas com simetria axial e modelar as distribuições de velocidades das galáxias. Comparando a cinemática modelada com as observações concluímos que o BNS no núcleo da galáxia NGC4258 possui uma massa de 4, 8+0,9 -0,8M e que o BNS no núcleo da galáxia NGC1052 possui uma massa de 3,6 108M. / The focus of this work is the study of the in uence of nuclear supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the dynamics and stellar kinematics of the central region of galaxies and determine the masses of these SMBHs. Assuming that the distribution function (DF) that describes the galaxy dynamics depends of two integrals of motion (f = f(E;Lz), where E is the energy of the system and Lz is the z-component of the angular momentum), we have constructed a Jeans anisotropic dynamical model to t the observed stellar velocity distributions of the central regions of the active galaxies NGC4258 and NGC1052. The stellar kinematics of the galaxies was obtained from near-infrared spectroscopic observations in the K-band performed with the instrument NIFS (Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph) of the GEMINI North telescope. The observations show that the velocity distributions in the nuclear regions, particularly inside the black hole sphere of in uence, of the galaxies is dominated by high velocity dispersions. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis of the presence of SMBHs at the nucleus. We have used near-infrared K-band and H-band images obtained with the NICMOS instrument (Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer) aboard the HST (Hubble Space Telescope) and from 2MASS (Two Micron All-Sky Survey) to build multi-gaussian expansion models (MGE) to parametrise the surface brightness distributions of the galaxies. From these MGE models it was possible to obtain the mass distributions and the gravitational potentials of the galaxies. To these potentials we added the potential of a point source representing the SMBH. These densitypotential pairs described as two-dimensional gaussian functions were then used to obtain the solutions of the semi-isotropic axisymmetric Jeans equations and to model the velocity distributions of the galaxies. By comparing the modelled kinematics with the observed one we concluded that the SMBH in the nucleus of the galaxy NGC4258 has a mass of 4, 8+0,9 -0,8M and that the SMBH in the nucleus of the galaxy NGC1052 has a mass of 3,6 108M.

We present results from a study of protoglobular cluster candidates in the interacting galaxy system Arp 284 (NGC 7714/5) using data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Previous studies of the Antennae and M51 have suggested that the majority of young massive star clusters dissolve within 20 Myr due to mass loss. We use the evolutionary synthesis code starburst99 to estimate ages and extinctions for approximately 175 clusters visible with HST. We also use lower resolution Galaxy Evolution Explorer and ground-based Hα data to estimate the ages of the giant H ii regions in which these clusters are found, and compare the Spitzer colours of these H ii regions to those of star-forming regions in other interacting systems. The ages are also used to aid in the interpretation of Chandra X-ray data. Clusters in the tidal tails of NGC 7714 are generally found to have ages less than 20 Myr, though observational limits make the significance of this result uncertain. Older clusters, though not numerous, have nearly the same spatial distribution within the imaged portion of NGC 7714 as young clusters. The cluster population in the bridge connecting the two galaxies appears to be older, but the data in this part of the system are too limited to draw firm conclusions. The ages of the giant H ii regions in NGC 7714 are generally older than those of their constituent clusters, possibly indicating that the young clusters we detect are surrounded by their dispersed predecessors.

We present high spatial resolution X-ray imaging data for the interacting galaxy pair NGC 7714/7715 (Arp 284) from the Chandra X-ray telescope. In addition to the unresolved starburst nucleus, a variable point source with L x ≈ 10 40 ergs s -1 was detected 1.″5 (270 pc) to the northwest of the nucleus, coincident with a blue, extremely optically luminous (M V ≈ -14.1) point source on Hubble Space Telescope images. Eleven other candidate point-like ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) were also detected in the vicinity of NGC 7714/7715, two of which exceed 10 40 ergs s -1. Ten of these appear to be associated with interaction-induced features, but only two are associated with star formation regions. We also found diffuse emission with L x ≈ 3 × 10 40 ergs s -1 extending 11″ (1.9 kpc) to the north of the nucleus. Its spectrum can be fitted with either a two-temperature MEKAL function (kT = 0.59 -0.06+0.05 and 8 -3-10 keV) or a 0.6 keV MEKAL function plus a power law (Γ = 1.8 ± 0.2). The hard component may be due to high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) with possible contributions from inverse Compton radiation, while the soft component is likely from a superwind. Superbubble models imply an expansion age of ≈15 Myr, supporting previous assertions of an intermediate-age nuclear stellar population in addition to a 5 Myr starburst. We also detected extended X-ray emission associated with four extranuclear H II region complexes. The emission from these H II regions and the nuclear starburst could be due to either an enhanced population of HMXBs relative to Local Group galactic averages or to diffuse gas heated by winds from supernovae, if the X-ray production efficiency L x/L mech is high (≈5%). To estimate L x/L mech, we collected published data for well-studied H II regions and superbubbles in nearby galaxies. For H II regions with ages less than 3.5 Myr, the median L x/L mech ≈ 0.02%, while for older star formation regions, L x/L mech ≈ 0.2%-7%. Thus, it is possible that gas heating by supemovae may be sufficient to account for the observed X-rays from these H II regions. In galaxies much more distant than NGC 7714, for example, the Cartwheel galaxy, H II region complexes similar to those in NGC 7714 will be unresolved by Chandra and will mimic ULXs. No X-ray emission was detected from the Type Ib supernova SN 1999dn, with an upper limit of ≈2 × 10 38 ergs s -1.

We present new CO (1-0) observations of 11 extragalactic tails and bridges in nine interacting galaxy systems, almost doubling the number of such features with sensitive CO measurements. Eight of these 11 features were undetected in CO to very low CO/H I limits, with the most extreme case being the NGC 7714/5 bridge. This bridge contains luminous H II regions and has a very high H I column density (1.6 × 1021 cm-2 in the 55″ CO beam), yet was undetected in CO to rms T*R = 2.4 mK. The H I column density is higher than standard H2 and CO self-shielding limits for solar-metallicity gas, suggesting that the gas in this bridge is metal-poor and has an enhanced NH2/ICO ratio compared with the Galactic value. Only one of the 11 features in our sample was unambiguously detected in CO, a luminous H I-rich star formation region near an optical tail in the compact group Stephan's Quintet. We detect CO at two widely separated velocities in this feature, at ∼6000 and ∼6700 km s-1. Both of these components have H I and Hα counterparts. These velocities correspond to those of galaxies in the group, suggesting that this gas is material that has been removed from two galaxies in the group. The CO/ H I/Hα ratios for both components are similar to global values for spiral galaxies.

Les données détaillées obtenues grâce au spectro-imageur OASIS de la région centrale de 7 galaxies spirales barrées : NGC 2718, NGC 4385, NGC 4900, NGC 5430, NGC 5921, NGC 7177 et NGC 7798, montrent une combinaison de raies d'émission nébulaire et de raies d'absorption stellaire ainsi que des structures morphologiques intéressantes (anneau, barre et/ou spirale nucléaire). Cette mixture de raies d'émission produites par des étoiles chaudes et de raies d'absorption associées à des étoiles froides propose la présence de plus d'une population dans chaque lentille observée. Pour séparer ces deux populations, j'ai développé une technique itérative fondée sur les statistiques bayésiennes. Cette technique me permet de trouver les populations les plus probables pour reproduire les indicateurs mesurés dans les spectres (Hα; et Hβ en émission pour les étoiles jeunes et la bande de Mg₂, Fel[lambda]5270 et 5335 ainsi que Hβ en absorption pour l'absorption stellaire directement) en les comparant aux résultats de codes de synthèse spectrale évolutive. La technique itérative me donne aussi des estimés de l'abondance d'oxygène du gaz nébulaire, de la métallicité stellaire, du taux de formation stellaire ainsi que de la masse de chacune des populations. De plus, les raies du milieu nébulaire me permettent de caractériser l'émission de chaque lentille et de mesurer l'extinction E(B-V) qui y est présente. À partir de ces informations, j'arrive à formuler des scénarios quant à l'histoire de la formation stellaire à l'intérieur de la région centrale des galaxies. Toutes les galaxies de l'échantillon montrent une succession d'épisodes de formation stellaire avec l'absence d'une progression constante de la métallicité dans les populations. Je propose donc que l'ensemble des galaxies de mon échantillon ait connu à divers moments des écoulements de gaz le long de la barre vers la région centrale. Ces écoulements de gaz seraient à l'origine des épisodes de formation stellaire observés et de l'activité nucléaire dans certain cas.

No description available.

We present a (CO)-C-12 (2-1) mosaic map of the spiral galaxy NGC 6946 by combining data from the Submillimeter Array and the IRAM 30m telescope. We identify 390 giant molecular clouds (GMCs) from the nucleus to 4.5 kpc in the disk. GMCs in the inner 1 kpc are generally more luminous and turbulent, some of which have luminosities > 10(6)K. km. s(-1) pc(2) and velocity dispersions > 10. km s(-1). Large-scale bar-driven dynamics likely regulate GMC properties in the nuclear region. Similar to the MilkyWay and other disk galaxies, GMC mass function of NGC 6946 has a shallower slope (index > -2) in the inner region, and a steeper slope (index < -2) in the outer region. This difference in mass spectra may be indicative of different cloud formation pathways: gravitational instabilities might play a major role in the nuclear region, while cloud coalescence might be dominant in the outer disk. Finally, the NGC 6946 clouds are similar to those inM33 in terms of statistical properties, but they are generally less luminous and turbulent than the M51 clouds.

We present Hubble Space Telescope far-UV spectra of four QSOs whose sightlines pass through the halo of NGC 1097 at impact parameters of rho = 48-165 kpc. NGC 1097 is a nearby spiral galaxy that has undergone at least two minor merger events, but no apparent major mergers, and is relatively isolated with respect to other nearby bright galaxies. This makes NGC 1097 a good case study for exploring baryons in a paradigmatic bright-galaxy halo. Ly alpha absorption is detected along all sightlines and Si III lambda 1206 is found along the three sightlines with the smallest.; metal lines of C II, Si II, and Si IV are only found with certainty toward the innermost sightline. The kinematics of the absorption lines are best replicated by a model with a disk-like distribution of gas approximately planar to the observed 21 cm H I disk, which is rotating more slowly than the inner disk, and into which gas is infalling from the intergalactic medium. Some part of the absorption toward the innermost sightline may arise either from a small-scale outflow or from tidal debris associated with the minor merger that gives rise to the well known "dog-leg" stellar stream that projects from NGC 1097. When compared to other studies, NGC 1097 appears to be a "typical" absorber, although the large dispersion in absorption line column density and equivalent width in a single halo goes perhaps some way toward explaining the wide range of these values seen in higher-z studies.

During an intensive Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) UV monitoring campaign of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 performed from 2014 February to July, the normally highly correlated far UV continuum and broad emission line variations decorrelated for similar to 60-70 days, starting similar to 75 days after the first HST/COS observation. Following this anomalous state, the flux and variability of the broad emission lines returned to a more normal state. This transient behavior, characterized by significant deficits in flux and equivalent width of the strong broad UV emission lines, is the first of its kind to be unambiguously identified in an active galactic nucleus reverberation mapping campaign. The largest corresponding emission line flux deficits occurred for the high ionization, collisionally excited lines C IV and Si IV(+O IV]), and also He II(+O III]), while the anomaly in Ly alpha was substantially smaller. This pattern of behavior indicates a depletion in the flux of photons with E-ph > 54 eV relative to those near 13.6 eV. We suggest two plausible mechanisms for the observed behavior: (i) temporary obscuration of the ionizing continuum incident upon broad line region (BLR) clouds by a moving veil of material lying between the inner accretion disk and inner (BLR), perhaps resulting from an episodic ejection of material from the disk, or (ii) a temporary change in the intrinsic ionizing continuum spectral energy distribution resulting in a deficit of ionizing photons with energies > 54 eV, possibly due to a transient restructuring of the Comptonizing atmosphere above the disk. Current evidence appears to favor the latter explanation.

Swift monitoring of NGC 4151 with an similar to 6 hr sampling over a total of 69 days in early 2016 is used to construct light curves covering five bands in the X-rays (0.3-50 keV) and six in the ultraviolet (UV)/optical (1900-5500 angstrom). The three hardest X-ray bands (> 2.5 keV) are all strongly correlated with no measurable interband lag, while the two softer bands show lower variability and weaker correlations. The UV/optical bands are significantly correlated with the X-rays, lagging similar to 3-4 days behind the hard X-rays. The variability within the UV/optical bands is also strongly correlated, with the UV appearing to lead the optical by similar to 0.5-1 days. This combination of greater than or similar to 3 day lags between the X-rays and UV and less than or similar to 1 day lags within the UV/optical appears to rule out the "lamp-post" reprocessing model in which a hot, X-ray emitting corona directly illuminates the accretion disk, which then reprocesses the energy in the UV/optical. Instead, these results appear consistent with the Gardner & Done picture in which two separate reprocessings occur: first, emission from the corona illuminates an extreme-UV-emitting toroidal component that shields the disk from the corona; this then heats the extreme-UV component, which illuminates the disk and drives its variability.