Kiloparsec-scale outflows are prevalent among luminous AGN: outflows and feedback in the context of the overall AGN population

We present integral field unit observations covering the [O iii]lambda lambda 4959, 5007 and H beta emission lines of 16 z < 0.2 type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGN). Our targets are selected from a well-constrained parent sample of a parts per thousand 24 000 AGN so that we can place our observations into the context of the overall AGN population. Our targets are radio quiet with star formation rates (SFRs; a parts per thousand(2)[10-100] M-aS (TM) yr(-1)) that are consistent with normal star-forming galaxies. We decouple the kinematics of galaxy dynamics and mergers from outflows. We find high-velocity ionized gas (velocity widths a parts per thousand 600-1500 km s(-1); maximum velocities a parts per thousand currency sign1700 km s(-1)) with observed spatial extents of a parts per thousand(3)(6-16) kpc in all targets and observe signatures of spherical outflows and bi-polar superbubbles. We show that our targets are representative of z < 0.2, luminous (i.e. L-[O iii] > 10(41.7) erg s(-1)) type 2 AGN and that ionized outflows are not only common but also in a parts per thousand yen70 per cent (3 sigma confidence) of cases, they are extended over kiloparsec scales. Our study demonstrates that galaxy-wide energetic outflows are not confined to the most extreme star-forming galaxies or radio-luminous AGN; however, there may be a higher incidence of the most extreme outflow velocities in quasars hosted in ultraluminous infrared galaxies. Both star formation and AGN activity appear to be energetically viable to drive the outflows and we find no definitive evidence that favours one process over the other. Although highly uncertain, we derive mass outflow rates (typically a parts per thousand 10 times the SFRs), kinetic energies (a parts per thousand 0.5-10 per cent of L-AGN) and momentum rates (typically a parts per thousand(3)10-20 x L-AGN/c) consistent with theoretical models that predict AGN-driven outflows play a significant role in shaping the evolution of galaxies.