Blowing Star Formation Away in AGN Hosts (BAH). IV. Feeding and Feedback in 3C 293 Observed with JWST NIRSpec

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 from the continuum peak. The hot molecular gas is traced by the H 2 2.12 μ m emission line and the ionized gas by [Fe ii ] 1.64 μ m and Pa α . The gas presents three main kinematic components: a rotating disk, seen as a narrow component ( σ ∼ 100 km s −1 ); a blueshifted broad outflow ( σ ∼ 250 km s −1 ); and a fast ionized outflow as a very broad component ( σ ∼ 640 km s −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 outflow components, inflows along the dust lanes are detected in H 2 gas, with a mass inflow rate of M ̇ in ≃ 4 × 1 0 − 4 M ⊙ yr − 1 , which is lower than the active galactic nucleus (AGN) accretion rate. For the outflows, we derive peak mass outflow rates of 0.08 ± 0.02 M ⊙ yr −1 (molecular) and 6.5 ± 1.7 M ⊙ 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 postmerger history and JWST’s unique capability for probing dust-obscured AGNs.