Morphology and kinematics of spiral galaxies with and without AGNs

Abstract
The analysis of a sample of 30 isolated spiral galaxies with and without an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) results in active and control galaxies having similar bulge and disk properties. Secondary bars also seem to be indistinguishable. Circumnuclear kinematics are also analyzed to disentangle what kind of mechanisms are taking place in the circumnuclear regions. From long slit spectra of a subsample of isolated active and non-active spiral galaxies in the H emission line region, the shape and properties of the rotation curves are obtained together with the line ratios used to estimate the metallicity of all the detected HII regions. Kinematics and metallicities are also studied in comparison with the properties determined for a family of 111 spiral galaxies with a well determined environmental status, ranging from isolation to close, though not disruptive, interaction with satellites or companions. The stellar kinematics are also studied in some cases, with as main result the detection of a stellar velocity dispersion drop in the centers of four Seyfert galaxies. Together with previous findings, our results from the comparison between active and non-active isolated galaxies point to AGNs being an episode in the life of galaxies, provided that the fuel is available and the accumulation mechanisms are at work.