Seyferts in 3D: Probing the Kinematic Signatures of Gas Fueling

We present the results of a detailed comparative 3D spectroscopic imaging study of the stellar and gaseous distribution and kinematics of 9 Seyfert galaxies, each paired with a closely control non-active galaxy. The data were obtained using the integral-field spectrograph SAURON on the William Herschel Telescope. We present maps of the stellar and gaseous distribution and kinematics in the central kpc of our sample galaxies, specifically: stellar velocity, velocity dispersion and Gauss-Hermite moments H3 and H4, and emission lines distribution Hbeta, [OIII] and [NI]), gas velocity and dispersion, emission lines ratio [OIII]/Hbeta). We compare the gaseous and stellar kinematics of active and inactive galaxies and discuss these results in the context of triggering and fuelling nuclear activity in nearby galaxies.