Exceptional AGN-driven turbulence inhibits star formation in the 3C 326N radio-galaxy

Understand

We detect bright [CII]158$\mu$m line emission from the radio galaxy 3C 326N at z=0.09, which shows weak star formation ($SFR<0.07$M$_{\odot}$~yr$^{-1}$) despite having strong H$_2$ line emission and $2\times 10^9$M$_{\odot}$ of molecular gas.

• The [CII] line is twice as strong as the 0-0S(1) 17$\mu$m H$_2$ line, and both lines are much in excess what is expected from UV heating.
• We combine infrared Spitzer and Herschel data with gas and dust modeling to infer the gas physical conditions.
• The [CII] line traces 30 to 50% of the molecular gas mass, which is warm (70<T<100K) and at moderate densities $700<n_{H}<3000$cm$^{-3}$.