Spatially resolved near-infrared spectroscopy of the Seyfert 2 galaxies Markarian 1066, NGC 2110, NGC 4388, and Markarian 3

We present near-infrared spectra with resolutions of lambda/Delta lambda similar to 1200 in the emission lines Pa beta, [Fe II] (lambda = 1.2567 mum), Br gamma, and H-2 v = 1-0 S(1) of the nuclei and circumnuclear regions of the four Seyfert 2 galaxies Mk 1066, NGC 2110, NGC 4388, and Mk 3. All of these galaxies show strong near-infrared line emission that is detected at radii several times the spatial resolution, corresponding to projected physical scales of 0.07 to 0.7 kpc. Velocity gradients are detected in these nuclei, as are spatial variations in line profiles and flux ratios. We compare the spatial and velocity distribution of the line emission to previously observed optical line and radio emission. The evidence indicates that the [Fe II] emission is associated with the Seyfert activity in the galaxies. Our data are consistent with X-ray heating being responsible for most of the [Fe II] emission, although differences in [Fe II] and Pa beta line profiles associated with radio emission suggests that the [Fe II] emission is enhanced by fast shocks associated with radio outflows. The H-2 emission is not as strongly associated with outflows or ionization cones as is the emission in other lines, but rather appears to be primarily associated with the disk of the galaxy.