Near-infrared adaptive optics imaging of nuclear spiral structure in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3227

We present high spatial resolution, near-infrared images in J, H and K of t he nucleus of NGC 3227, obtained with the Adaptive Optics Bonnette on the C anada-France-Hawaii Telescope. The similar to0.15 arcsec (17 pc) resolution allows structures to be probed in the core region. Dust obscuration become s significantly less pronounced at longer wavelengths, revealing the true g eometry of the core region. We are able to identify two main features in ou r maps: (i) a spiralling association of knots with a counterpart in a Hubbl e Space Telescope F606W image; and (ii) a smaller-scale annulus, orthogonal to the spiral of knots. These features may provide a means to transport ma terial inwards to fuel the active nucleus.