Abstract

We report high resolution (1''∼ 5'') CO (J=1-0) observations in the central 5 kpc region of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4501 with the Nobeyama Millimeter Array (NMA). The major features seen in a low resolution map are (1) spiral arms penetrating into the nuclear region, (2) a nuclear condensation with a radius of 3'' (230 pc), which is resolved into double peaks in a high resolution map. Though feature (2) is reminiscent of the gas features often seen in barred galaxies, this galaxy shows no clear sign of a bar. Thus, we propose a ``spiral-driven inflow'' model as a mechanism for producing the gas condensation in the central region of this galaxy, instead of a bar-driven inflow.