2008A&A...478..321B -
Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 478, 321-333 (2008/2-1)
Evidence of a type 1/type 2 dichotomy in the correlation between quasar optical polarization and host-galaxy/extended emission position angles.
BORGUET B., HUTSEMEKERS D., LETAWE G., LETAWE Y. and MAGAIN P.
Abstract (from CDS):
For Seyfert galaxies, the AGN unification model provides a simple and well-established explanation of the type 1/type 2 dichotomy through orientation-based effects. The generalization of this unification model to the higher luminosity AGNs that quasars are remains a key question. The recent detection of type 2 radio-quiet quasars seems to support such an extension. We propose a further test of this scenario. On the basis of a compilation of quasar host-galaxy position angles consisting of previously published data and of new measurements performed using HST Archive images, we investigate the possible existence of a correlation between the linear polarization position angle and the host-galaxy/extended emission position angle of quasars. We find that the orientation of the rest-frame UV/blue extended emission is correlated to the direction of the quasar polarization. For type 1 quasars, the polarization is aligned with the extended UV/blue emission, while these two quantities are perpendicular in type 2 objects. This result is independent of the quasar radio loudness. We interpret this (anti-)alignment effect in terms of scattering in a two-component polar+equatorial model that applies to both type 1 and type 2 objects. Moreover, the orientation of the polarization -and then of the UV/blue scattered light- does not appear correlated to the major axis of the stellar component of the host-galaxy measured from near-IR images.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
galaxies: quasars: general - polarization
VizieR on-line data:
<Available at CDS (J/A+A/478/321): table1.dat refs.dat>
Simbad objects:
156
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