We propose to use the SPIRE FTS to study the large molecular gas reservoir of the powerful radio galaxy 3C293, the scene of a very strong AGN jet-gas interaction, and the first known case of shock-powered luminous mid-J/high-J CO lines. These were discovered during our large ground-basedCO line survey of Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) and AGN hosts, and set this object apart as that with the most excited molecular gas of the entire survey, yet with its large gas reservoir (virgul2x10^9Msol) surprisingly idle in terms of star formation rate (SFRvirgul4Msol/yr).A deep SPIRE FTS spectrum will complete our ground-based CO Spectral Line Energy Distribution (SLED) of this remarkable system and allow excellent constraints to be placed on the thermal state of its molecular gas reservoir and possible suppressing effects of the AGN on star formation in the host galaxy. It will also be the first opportunity to study, locally, powerful AGN mechanical feedback onto the interstellar medium of host galaxies, which will occur frequently in the Early Universe during galaxy formation in the deep gravitational wells of proto-clusters marked by such powerful radio galaxies.
Publication
The Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer Spectral Feature Finder - II. Estimating radial velocity of SPIRE spectral observation sources | Scott Jeremy P. et al. | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | null | null | 2020MNRAS.496.4894S |
The Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer Spectral Feature Finder - III. Line identification and off-axis spectra | Benson Chris S. et al. | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | null | null | 2020MNRAS.496.4906B |
The Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer Spectral Feature Finder I. The Spectral Feature Finder and Catalogue | Hopwood R. et al. | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | null | null | 2020MNRAS.496.4874H |
Instrument
SPIRE_SpireSpectrometer_
Temporal Coverage
2012-01-26T15:29:51Z/2012-01-26T21:34:15Z
Version
SPG v14.1.0
Mission Description
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth cornerstone mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
European Space Agency, papadopoulos et al., 2012, 'Strong AGN feedback onto the ISM and its effects: A SPIRE FTS view of the molecular gas in 3C293', SPG v14.1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-m42bagh
