The PUMA project. Mergers and feedback in local ULIRGs resolved by ALMA and MUSE+AO

Galaxy mergers and interactions have a key role in the evolution of galaxies, specially at high-z when they were more common than today. Mergers trigger starbursts and AGN activity, which are both regulated by negative feedback processes, as well as can turn spiral galaxies into massive quiescent objects.

The local counterparts of these major interactions and mergers are local ULIRGs (L(IR)/Lsun > 1e12) which, thanks to their proximity, allow us detailed studies of the dominant physical processes. In this talk, I will present the first results obtained for a sample of 25 local ULIRGs observed by ALMA and MUSE+AO at 50-400 pc resolution as part of the PUMA project. I will discuss: the role of massive cold molecular outflows (negative feedback), the properties of the gas in these outflows, and the possible presence of elusive, but very luminous, deeply dust embedded AGN in these systems.