Nuclear activity in nearby galaxies

The main focus of this thesis has been the search for and study of low luminosity AGN. We have detected severa low luminosity AGN in nearby galaxies, revealing that this type of activity can occur in a broad range of galaxy types and powers. Furthermore, we have been able to establish importan constraints on the accretion processes in low luminosity AGN. The main repercussion of this work, however, is on how galaxies were formed and how they evolve. Quasars, fo r example, were very common in the distant Universe, when the Universe was young. By studying nearby low luminosity AGN, we have t ried to establish a link and trace the life of powerful quasars down to nearby low luminosity AGN and then to 'starved' AGN like Sgr A.. Hopefully, some of the work presented in this thesis may ultimately aid in understanding how black holes are formed, how black hole fueling is triggered, how black holes grow and evolve through accretion and what role the black hole plays in galaxy formation and evolution. ... Zie: Summar