Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 1991
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991apj...375...69k&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 375, July 1, 1991, p. 69-77.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
12
Accretion Disks, Bl Lacertae Objects, Light Scattering, Optical Polarization, Linear Polarization, Polarimetry, Seyfert Galaxies, X Ray Astronomy
Scientific paper
A general formalism for calculating the linear polarization induced by scattering within the central funnel of a thick accretion disk is presented, and it is shown that multiple photon reflections off the funnel walls can produce polarization values of up to about 10 percent, with the polarization position angle aligned parallel to the disk symmetry axis. It is suggested that this process is responsible for the observed optical polarization levels in X-ray-selected BL Lac objects (XBLs), which generally show linear polarization percentages P less than about 10 percent. According to this interpretation, XBLs with high optical polarization are viewed at an angle of less than about 60 deg to the funnel axis and their projected polarization vectors should be preferentially aligned with the associated radio jets. The possible relevance of this model to Seyfer 1 galaxies and quasars is also discussed.
Kartje John Francis
Konigl Arieh
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