The optical polarization properties of "normal" quasars.
Abstract
In 1977, a linear polarization survey of bright QSOs from the catalog of Burbidge et al. (1977) was begun. Stockman and Angel (1978) and Stockman (1978) have reported preliminary results of this survey. Since these reports, the bright QSO survey has been completed and an extended survey of fainter QSOs with known variability and/or spectral indices has been conducted. This paper presents the final report of the results of the surveys. The selection criteria for the bright QSO survey are defined, the observational techniques are described, and the polarization data for the entire sample are presented. An analysis of the data is performed, taking into account the probability distribution of polarization, the variability of polarization, and the color dependence of polarization. Models for the origin of polarization are also discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 1984
- DOI:
- 10.1086/161912
- Bibcode:
- 1984ApJ...279..485S
- Keywords:
-
- Optical Polarization;
- Polarimetry;
- Quasars;
- Astronomical Models;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Probability Distribution Functions;
- Radio Galaxies;
- Seyfert Galaxies;
- Astrophysics