Detection of two massive CO systems in 4C 41.17 at z=3.8

We have detected CO(4-3) in the z = 3.8 radio galaxy 4C 41.17 with the IRAM Interferometer. The CO is in two massive (M-dyn similar to 6 x 10(10) M.) systems separated by 1.8 (13 kpc), and by 400 km s(-1) in velocity, which coincide with two different dark lanes in a deep Lyalpha image. One CO component coincides with the cm-radio core of the radio galaxy, and its redshift is close to that of the He II lambda 1640 AGN line. The second CO component is near the base of a cone-shaped region southwest of the nucleus, which resembles the emission-line cones seen in nearby AGN and starburst galaxies. The characteristics of the CO sources and their mm/submm dust continuum are similar to those found in ultraluminous IR galaxies and in some high-z radio galaxies and quasars. The fact that 4C 41.17 contains two CO systems is further evidence for the role of mergers in the evolution of galaxies at high redshift.