Open AccessTwo little blazars
Author(s) -
Jackson N.,
Marchã M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02848.x
Subject(s) - physics , blazar , bl lac object , astrophysics , redshift , quasar , polarization (electrochemistry) , radio galaxy , galaxy , active galactic nucleus , astronomy , spectral line , optical spectra , gamma ray , chemistry
Optical polarization observations are presented of two low‐luminosity flat‐spectrum radio sources with optical broad lines. Both objects have significantly polarized optical continuum. The polarization is diluted by the H α broad line, and must therefore be at least partly a continuum phenomenon. The objects therefore have all the properties of classical BL Lac objects, except, like BL Lac itself, they display significant broad lines for at least some of the time. The finding further blurs the distinction between BL Lac objects and other types of low‐redshift, radio‐loud active galaxies.