New Insights into the Quasar Type1/Type2 Dichotomy from Correlations between Quasar Host Orientation and Polarization
Abstract
We investigate correlations between the direction of the optical linear polarization and the orientation of the host galaxy/extended emission for type1 and type2 radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars. We have used high resolution Hubble Space Telescope data and a deconvolution process to obtain a good determination of the host galaxy/extended emission (EE) position angle. With these new measurements and a compilation of data from the literature, we find a significant correlation, different for type1 and type2 objects, between the linear polarization position angle and the orientation of the EE, suggesting scattering by an extended UV/blue region in both types of objects. Our observations support the extension of the Unification Model to the higher luminosity AGNs like the quasars, assuming a two component scattering model.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0809.4539,
title = {New Insights into the Quasar Type1/Type2 Dichotomy from Correlations between Quasar Host Orientation and Polarization},
author = {B. Borguet and D. Hutsemékers and G. Letawe and Y. Letawe and P. Magain},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0809.4539},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
2 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the Astronomical Polarimetry 2008 conference