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arxiv: 1101.4928 · v1 · pith:L4WOV5QYnew · submitted 2011-01-25 · 🌌 astro-ph.CO

VLT Spectropolarimetry of Broad Absorption Line QSOs

classification 🌌 astro-ph.CO
keywords polarizationcontinuumabsorptionbalqsosbroadcorrelationsdecreasinglarge
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We present spectropolarimetry of 19 confirmed and 4 possible bright, southern broad absorption line (BAL) quasars from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT). A wide range of redshifts is covered in the sample (from 0.9 to 3.4), and both low- and hi-ionization quasars are represented, as well as radio-loud and radio-quiet BALQSOs. We continue to confirm previously established spectropolarimetric properties of BALQSOs, including the generally rising continuum polarization with shorter wavelengths and comparatively large fraction with high broad-band polarization (6 of 19 with polarizations >2%). Emission lines are polarized less than or similar to the continuum, except in a few unusual cases, and absorption troughs tend to have higher polarizations. A search for correlations between polarization properties has been done, identifying 2 significant or marginally significant correlations. These are an increase in continuum polarization with decreasing optical luminosity (increasing absolute B magnitude) and decreasing \ion{C}{4} emission-line polarization with increased continuum polarization.

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