Blazarlike activity in the low polarization quasar 3C 273

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astronomical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115372· OSTI ID:6917763

Valtaoja, E; Valtaoja, L; Efimov, IU S; Shakhovskoi, N M ^[1]

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1. Helsinki Univ. of Technology, Kylmala (Finland) Turku University Observatory (Finland) Krymskaia Astrofizicheskaia Observatoriia, Nauchny (Ukrainian SSR)

UBVRI photopolarimetric observations of the low polarization quasar 3C 273 in a quiescent phase have been obtained. The overall shape of the spectrum and the average polarization, decreasing towards blue, can be explained as resulting from a synchrotron and a blackbody component. The observations also show daily variations in flux, polarization, and wavelength dependence of polarization, properties usually associated with blazars only. Since neither of the two main components is a likely candidate for these variations, the existence of a third component with blazarlike properties is indicated. 3C 273 may be an intermediate case between blazars and normal low polarization quasars, with the quantitative difference that both the absolute intensities and the polarizations of the synchrotron components are an order of magnitude smaller than in blazars. 34 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6917763
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal; (USA) Vol. 99; ISSN 0004-6256; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BLACKBODY RADIATION
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
LUMINOSITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOMETRY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIMETRY
POLARIZATION
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
VARIATIONS
VISIBLE SPECTRA