2026ApJ...997...40D

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 $\sim 0\mathop{.}\limits^{\unicode{x02033}}5$ from the continuum peak. The hot molecular gas is traced by the H₂ 2.12 μm emission line and the ionized gas by [Fe II] 1.64 μm and Paα. 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 H₂ gas, with a mass inflow rate of ${\dot{M}}_{\mathrm{in}}\simeq 4\times 1{0}^{-4}\,{M}_{\odot }\,{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}$, 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.