hide random home http://bear.ras.ucalgary.ca/AGN.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)

Radio Polarization of Active Galactic Nuclei

Radio Polarization of Active Galactic Nuclei

There are two main type of radio loud compact Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), BL Lacertae objects and quasars. The main observational difference between these two types of AGN is the relative weakness of emission lines in the spectra of BL Lacertae objects compared to those in quasars. Radio polarametric investigations of the cores of AGN show that there are systematic differences in the direction of polarization of ejected material from the two types of objects. Denise Gabuzda (denise@ras.ucalgary.ca) is using this information to try to understand the physical processes at the root of this difference.
Brad Wallace: brad@ras.ucalgary.ca