High-Resolution Spectroscopy of a Complete Seyfert Sample

We propose new IRS high-resolution spectroscopy that will finish a full suite of data for a complete sample of Seyfert galaxies in the nearby Universe. Our sample, which includes all known B < 13 Seyferts in the Revised Shapley-Ames catalog, reduces biases found in other samples selected at optical/X-ray/IR wavelengths against type 2 and low-luminosity nuclei, and against AGNs in edge-on host galaxies. The existing data set is complete for 3.6-24 micron imaging and 5-40 micron low-resolution spectroscopy, but the sample is currently biased against faint Seyfert 2 nuclei for high-resolution spectroscopy. With these new data, we will investigate how the ratios of fine-structure lines vary as a function of Seyfert type, AGN luminosity, and host galaxy star formation activity, and how ubiquitous high-ionization lines are in low luminosity and obscured sources.