Near-infrared spectral mapping of NGC 1614

We present the spatial distribution of the bright near-infrared emission li nes, Br gamma, H-2, He I, [Fe II], and the CO band longwards of 2.3 mu m, f or the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 1614. The morphology of the ionised gas is different from that of the stellar light, and possibly forms a circumnu clear ring. Our data imply that the stellar population is older and the ext inction is lower in the nucleus relative to the surrounding circumnuclear r ing. We suggest that NGC 1614 is a galaxy whose recent interaction triggere d massive star formation in the nucleus, which in turn caused a radially ou tward progression of star formation thereby producing the circumnuclear rin g we observe today. There is no evidence for a buried AGN, and it is diffic ult to reconcile our data with the simple evolutionary model of ultralumino us galaxies proposed by Sanders et al (1988).