Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 1992
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992hst..prop.3732i&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #3732
Physics
Hst Proposal Id #3732
Scientific paper
We request 10.0 hours to obtain FOS UV spectropolarimetry of 2 luminous high-redshift normal radio-quiet quasars, selected from a large survey to have exceptional UV brightness and clearly detectable polarization. By obtaining spectropolarimetry to much shorter rest wavelengths than have ever before been measured, these observations offer a unique opportunity to (a) identify the polarizing mechanism(s), and possibly (b) detect the signature of a black hole accretion flow, and (c) make the first test of general relativity outside of the weak-field limit. New measurements of wavelength-dependent optical polarization show two competing models to be consistent with our spectropolarimetry of a dozen quasars. Choosing between these requires the extended spectral coverage (particularly to the shortest wavelengths) which can only be obtained by combining HST data with quasi-simultaneous ground-based polarimetry. The proposed observations will determine whether the polarization is produced by scattering from dust grains or free electrons, and indicate their location and properties. In AGNs where the contamination from starlight is, we can measure, for the first time, the polarization of the strong UV excess. If this component is thermal emission from an accretion flow, we will infer its physical properties (e.g. geometry and opacity), and search for the short wavelength posn. angle rotation predicted by GR.
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