Speaker
Description
Galaxy mergers can funnel large quantities of gas to the central regions of galaxies, triggering intense bursts of star formation and fueling Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). Feedback from AGNs, both positive and negative, can in turn have a strong impact on the evolution of the host galaxies and their environment. We have recently conducted a study of the neutral gas in the centres of $z \leq 0.2$ galaxy mergers that host strong radio sources, using HI absorption. We have found statistical evidence for the presence of large amount of neutral gas ($N({\rm HI}) \sim 10^{21-22}\,{\rm cm}^{-2}$) in the centres of such mergers, implying that mergers are efficient in channeling neutral gas to the galaxy centres. Using optical spectroscopy, we have identified both redshifted (inflowing) and blueshifted (outflowing) neutral absorbing gas components with respect to the AGN. Results from our multi-wavelength observations of low-$z$ mergers and their implications on the connection between AGN activity and the merger process will be presented in this talk.
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