Evidence for accretion disks in highly polarized quasars

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185119· OSTI ID:7222585

Smith, P S; Elston, R; Berriman, G; Allen, R G; Balonek, T J

The results of a search for thermal components in 11 highly polarized quasars (HPQs) using UVBRI polarimetry and photometry are reported. The 2000-2500 A luminosities of the thermal components are calculated and the estimated luminosities of the broad-line region (BLR) are given in the same wavelength for comparison. The observed optical continua are modeled as a combination of polarized synchrotron emission, unpolarized emission from the BLR, and an unpolarized flat spectral component that may be optically thick thermal emission from an accretion disk. Evidence for thermal emission components is found in three HPQs: PKS 0420-014, B2 1156+295, and 3C 454.3, with marginal evidence in another two, PKS 1510-089 and PKS 2345-167. 15 references.

• Research Organization: Steward Observatory, Tucson, AZ (USA); Colgate Univ., Hamilton, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7222585
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 326
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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