The Misdirected Central Engine of the Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy and Type 2 QSO IRAS P09104+4109

Details The Misdirected Central Engine of the Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy and Type 2 QSO IRAS P09104+4109 The Misdirected Central Engine of the Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy and Type 2 QSO IRAS P09104+4109

Feb 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999apj...512..145h&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 512, Issue 1, pp. 145-156.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

36

Galaxies: Individual: Alphanumeric: Iras P09104+4109, Galaxies: Peculiar, Infrared: Galaxies, Polarization, Galaxies: Quasars: Individual: Alphanumeric: Iras P09104+4109

Scientific paper

Hubble Space Telescope Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2 imaging polarimetry of the hyperluminous infrared galaxy (and misdirected QSO) IRAS P09104+4109 reveals a highly polarized (p~20%) giant (~5 kpc) bipolar reflection nebula centered on the nucleus. This, together with our previous detection of broad, polarized Mg II and newly detected broad, polarized Balmer emission lines in our ground-based spectropolarimetry, confirms that the lobes of the nebula are dominated by scattered light from the misdirected QSO and that the object would be indistinguishable from typical luminous QSOs if viewed from either pole. Comparison with previously published narrowband images in the light of [O III] lambdalambda4959, 5007 and [O II] lambda3727 shows that the northern lobe of the nebula is coincident with the ionization cone, thus the same light that impinges on the scattering material also ionizes the narrow-line gas. The biconical structure and high polarization suggest that the central UV continuum source is surrounded by a dusty torus of half-opening angle ~23 deg inclined ~37 deg with respect to our line of sight. The radio structure of this radio-intermediate object also indicates a long-lived axisymmetry to the central power source, but with a different axis relative to the scattering bicone. We propose that this difference in axes betrays the history of a cataclysmic event that altered the fundamental orientation of the central engine-the bicone defines the current axis of the system. Radio-emitting plasma is beginning to move outward along this new axis, depriving the old radio lobes of power. IRAS P09104+4109 is the first radio-quiet/intermediate object of QSO luminosity and hidden broad lines to show direct evidence that the axisymmetric torus inferred to exist in many Seyfert nuclei is also present in objects of high luminosity. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Misdirected Central Engine of the Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy and Type 2 QSO IRAS P09104+4109 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Misdirected Central Engine of the Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy and Type 2 QSO IRAS P09104+4109, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Misdirected Central Engine of the Hyperluminous Infrared Galaxy and Type 2 QSO IRAS P09104+4109 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1028331