Taurus observations of the velocity field in the inner zone of NGC 6946

We have obtained a two-dimensional velocity map in H of the inner 4 arc min zone of the Scd starburst galaxy NGC 6946 using the TAURUS interferometric spectrometer on the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope. The major axis rotation curve is a cleen kinematic superposition of a central 1 kpc sphere with solid body rotation and a disc with density falling inversely with radius. We show clear evidence of symmetrical radial motions in the plane of the galaxy with velocity up to 100 km s^–1 along axes offset from the major axis by up to ±30°. Along the bar at position angle 160° we see outflow out to –2 kpc and significant inflow beyond this radius. These velocity fields give clues to the nature of the starburst process within the central 1 kpc zone of the galaxy.