Optical spectroscopy of the central regions of bright barred spiral galaxies

Optical red spectra of a set of 18 bright barred spiral galaxies are presen ted. The study is aimed at determining the local kinematics and physical co nditions of ionized gas in the compact nucleus (inside a diameter of 5") an d in the circumnuclear regions (inside a diameter of 20"). Only 8 galaxies showed bright emission from their east and west side of the nucleus. The sp ectrum of each region was analized separately. In other 10 galaxies the lin e emission was so weak that we were only able to obtain an average spectrum of the central emission. No emission was detected in the remaining 8 galax ies. An estimate of the dynamical mass is presented based on the observed v elocities in the circumnuclear regions. In NGC 4314 and NGC 6951, that show Ha emission distributed in circumnuclear ring structures we determine the [NII] lambda 6583/H alpha and [SII]/H alpha ratios for the eastern and west ern regions of the rings. The velocity difference for the two sides is used to derive the rotation of the gas around the compact nucleus. The ratio [N II] lambda 6583/H alpha, is a factor of 2 larger in the compact nucleus of NGC 6951 than in its western side. The electron gas densities have been est imated from the [SII] lines ratio.