Radio properties of the highly polarized, quiescent quasar OI 287

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (13) References (25) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Radio Properties of the Highly Polarized, Quiescent Quasar OI 287 Ulvestad, James S. ; Antonucci, Robert R. J. Abstract OI 287 has often been considered to be a blazar because of its high optical polarization. However, it is the only high-polarization quasar with constant optical flux and polarization as well as a lobe-dominant radio source. All known blazars have cores with smooth convex spectra from radio to optical wavelengths, which is taken to indicate the presence of a single synchrotron source for this entire range. The high-resolution 6 cm and 2 cm VLA data described in this paper show that this cannot be the case for OI 287, so that it cannot be considered to be a blazar. Previous moderate-resolution radio mapping showed apparent twin jets with parallel magnetic fields in this high-luminosity source, whereas most high-luminosity sources have one-sided jets. The higher resolution data show that the jets are better described as bridges; therefore the morphology is not particularly unusual for high-luminosity, lobe-dominant sources. The radio core polarization of OI 287 is less than 0.25% at 6 cm, low in comparison to blazars. Both the radio polarization and the other radio/infrared properties are normal for lobe-dominant quasars. Therefore, the optical polarization may not arise from synchrotron radiation as it does in blazars. This is consistent with the idea of Miller and Goodrich in which an edge-on geometrically thin disk blocks our direct view of the continuum and broad-line regions. In that picture, the high optical polarization would arise because only scattered photons reach the observer. Alternatively, it is still possible that OI 287 is related to the broad absorption line quasars, several of which are significantly polarized. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1988 DOI: 10.1086/166314 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...328..569U Keywords: Bl Lacertae Objects; Optical Polarization; Quasars; Radio Sources (Astronomy); Synchrotron Radiation; Blazars; Emission Spectra; High Resolution; Line Spectra; Morphology; Stellar Luminosity; Very Large Array (Vla); Astrophysics; BL LACERTAE OBJECTS; POLARIZATION; QUASARS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (5) NED (5)