Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
May 1990
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990apj...354..124i&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 354, May 1, 1990, p. 124-139. Research supported by the Space Telescope Sci
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
140
Optical Polarization, Quasars, Radio Galaxies, Charge Coupled Devices, Emission Spectra, Galactic Structure, Optical Properties, Polarimetry, Red Shift
Scientific paper
Optical polarimetry is presented for 163 radio-selected quasars, including a complete sample of 90 sources stronger than 2 Jy at 5 GHz. Synchrotron components are detected in over 30 percent of these flat spectrum quasars, with an optical polarization threshold of p greater than 3 percent. The fraction of polarized quasars is a strong function of the compactness of the radio emission, as measured on VLBI scales. Including the duty cycle correction, essentially every quasar with S(core) greater than S(ext) at radio wavelengths has a prominent blazar component at optical wavelengths. Virtually all of the radio sources with weak emission lines (or BL Lac objects) are highly polarized. Optical and radio polarization are not correlated, and there is no difference in the alpha(ro) distributions of high- and low-polarization quasars, or sources with strong and weak emission lines. Redshift information is incomplete, but BL Lac objects appear to have lower redshifts than strong-lined quasars.
Impey Chris David
Tapia Saul
No associations
LandOfFree
The optical polarization properties of quasars 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 optical polarization properties of quasars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The optical polarization properties of quasars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-779486