Near-infrared observations of star formation and gas flows in the NUGA
  galaxy NGC 1365
  In the framework of understanding the gas and stellar kinematics and their
relations to AGNs and galaxy evolution scenarios, we present spatially resolved
distributions and kinematics of the stars and gas in the central $\sim 800$-pc
radius of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 1365. We obtained $H+K$- and $K$-band
near-infrared (NIR) integral-field observations from VLT/SINFONI. Our results
reveal strong broad and narrow emission-line components of ionized gas
(hydrogen recombination lines Pa$\alpha $ and Br$\gamma$) in the nuclear
region, as well as hot dust with a temperature of $\sim 1300$ K, both typical
for type-1 AGNs.From $M_{\mathrm{BH}}-\sigma_*$ and the broad components of
hydrogen recombination lines, we find a black-hole mass of $(5-10)\times 10^6
\, M_{\odot}$. In the central $\sim 800$ pc, we find a hot molecular gas mass
of $\sim 615$ M$_{\odot}$, which corresponds to a cold molecular gas reservoir
of $(2-8)\times 10^8$ M$_{\odot}$. However, there is a molecular gas deficiency
in the nuclear region.The gas and stellar-velocity maps both show rotation
patterns consistent with the large-scale rotation of the galaxy. However, the
gaseous and stellar kinematics show deviations from pure disk rotation, which
suggest streaming motions in the central $< 200$ pc and a velocity twist at the
location of the ring which indicates deviations in disk and ring rotation
velocities in accordance with published CO kinematics. We detect a blueshifted
emission line split in Pa$\alpha$, associated with the nuclear region only. We
investigate the star-formation properties of the hot spots in the circumnuclear
ring which have starburst ages of $\lesssim 10\,\mathrm{Myr}$ and find
indications for an age gradient on the western side of the ring. In addition,
our high-resolution data reveal further substructure within this ring which
also shows enhanced star forming activity close to the nucleus.
