Triggered Star Formation in a Massive Galaxy at z=3.8: 4C41.17

Spectropolarimetric observations obtained with the W. M. Keck Telescope of the z=3.8 radio galaxy 4C41.17 show that the UV continuum emission from this galaxy, which is aligned with the radio axis, is unpolarized (P[2sigma] < 2.4%). This implies that scattered AGN light, which is generally the dominant contributor to the rest-frame UV emission in z~1 radio galaxies, is unlikely to be a major component of the UV flux from 4C41.17. The spectrum shows absorption lines that are similar to those detected in the spectra of the recently discovered population of star forming galaxies at z~2-3. A galaxian outflow may contribute partially to the low ionization absorption lines; however, the high velocity wings of the high ionization lines are unlikely to be dominated by a galaxian wind since the implied outflow mass is very large. The detection of stellar absorption lines, the shape of the SiIV profile, the unpolarized continuum, the inability of any AGN-related processes to account for the UV flux, and the similarity of the UV continuum spectra of 4C41.17 and the nearby starburst region NGC 1741B1 suggest that the UV light in 4C41.17 is dominated by young stars. If so, the implied star-formation rate is roughly 140-1100Msun/yr. We discuss the possibility that star formation in 4C41.17 was triggered by the radio source. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that 4C41.17 is undergoing its major epoch of star formation at z~4, and that by z~1 it will have evolved to have spectral and morphological properties similar to those observed in known z~1 powerful radio galaxies.