Blowing star formation away in AGN Hosts (BAH) -- IV: Feeding and feedback in 3C 293 observed with JWST NIRSpec

TL;DR

This study uses JWST observations to analyze the gas kinematics, inflows, and outflows in the AGN host galaxy 3C 293, revealing how feedback processes driven by the radio jet can suppress star formation.

Contribution

First detailed JWST/NIRSpec analysis of gas dynamics and feedback mechanisms in 3C 293, combining stellar, molecular, and ionized gas observations.

Findings

Detection of multiple gas kinematic components including inflows and outflows.

Quantification of mass inflow and outflow rates related to AGN activity.

Evidence that jet-driven outflows can suppress star formation in the host galaxy.

Abstract

We use JWST/NIRSpec observations of the radio galaxy 3C 293 to map the emission, extinction, and kinematics of hot molecular and ionized gas, as well as stellar kinematics, within the inner ~ 2 kpc. The stellar velocity field is well described by a rotating disk model, with its kinematical center offset by ~ 0.5 arcsec from the continuum peak. The hot molecular gas is traced by the H$_2$2.12$\mu$m emission line, and the ionized gas by [Fe II]1.64$\mu$m and Pa$\alpha$. The gas presents three main kinematic components: a rotating disk seen as a narrow component ($\sigma$ ~ 100 kms$^{-1}$); a blueshifted broad outflow ($\sigma$ ~ 250 kms$^{-1}$); and a fast ionized outflow as a very broad component ($\sigma$ ~ 640 kms$^{-1}$). Extinction maps reveal high A$_V$ values, up to ~ 35, spatially coincident with dust lanes seen in optical images. In addition to the disk and outflows components, inflows along the dust lanes are detected in H$_2$ gas, with a mass inflow rate of $\dot{M}_{in}$ ~ 4 x 10$^{-4}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$, which is lower than the AGN accretion rate. For the outflows, we derive peak mass-outflow rates of 0.08 $\pm$ 0.02 M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$ (molecular) and 6.5 $\pm$ 1.7 M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$ (ionized). The outflow, driven by the radio jet, has a kinetic power of 5.7% of the jet power - enough to suppress star formation. Our results highlight 3C 293's turbulent post-merger history and JWST's unique capability to probe dust-obscured AGN.