The first 62 AGNs observed with SDSS-IV MaNGA – I. Their characterization and definition of a control sample

We report the characterization of the first 62 Mapping Nearby Galaxies at the Apache Point Observatory active galactic nuclei (AGNs) hosts and the definition of a control sample of non-active galaxies. This control sample was selected in order to match the AGN hosts in terms of stellar mass, redshift, visual morphology and inclination. The stellar masses are in the range 9.4 < log (M/M-circle dot) < 11.5, and most objects have redshifts <= 0.08. The AGN sample is mostly comprised low-luminosity AGN, with only 17 'strong AGN' with L([O III]lambda 5007 angstrom) >= 3.8 x 10(40) erg s(-1). The inner 1-3 kpc of the control sample galaxies are dominated by the oldest (>= 4Gyr) component, with a small contribution of intermediate age and young stars (<940 Myr). Examining the relationship between the stellar population properties and L([O III]), we find that with increasing L([O III]), the AGN exhibit a decreasing contribution from the oldest stellar population relative to control galaxies and an increasing contribution from the younger components (similar to 40 Myr). We also find a correlation of the mean age differences (AGN-control) with L([O III]), in the sense that more luminous AGNs are younger than the control objects, while the low-luminosity AGNs are older. These results support a connection between the growth of the galaxy bulge via formation of new stars and the growth of the Supermassive Black Hole via accretion in the AGN phase.