An optical polarization survey for BL Lacertae objects and highly polarized quasars

Buell T. Jannuzi; Richard F. Green; Howard French

doi:10.1086/172262

An optical polarization survey for BL Lacertae objects and highly polarized quasars

Buell T. Jannuzi, Richard F. Green, Howard French

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35 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the results of an extensive optical survey for highly polarized objects. The survey is complete to a B magnitude of 20 and covers 560 square degrees. We did not find any confirmed BL Lac objects, highly polarized quasars, or blazars, but we are able to constrain the surface density of the various populations of linearly polarized objects. Our constraints on the numbers of a population of polarized objects are a function of the duty cycle and the degree of polarization of the objects being constrained. We rule out the presence of an abundant population of radio-quiet BL Lacertae objects.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	100-111
Number of pages	12
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	404
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/172262
State	Published - Feb 10 1993

Keywords

BL Lacertae objects: general
Polarization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/172262

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title = "An optical polarization survey for BL Lacertae objects and highly polarized quasars",

abstract = "We present the results of an extensive optical survey for highly polarized objects. The survey is complete to a B magnitude of 20 and covers 560 square degrees. We did not find any confirmed BL Lac objects, highly polarized quasars, or blazars, but we are able to constrain the surface density of the various populations of linearly polarized objects. Our constraints on the numbers of a population of polarized objects are a function of the duty cycle and the degree of polarization of the objects being constrained. We rule out the presence of an abundant population of radio-quiet BL Lacertae objects.",

keywords = "BL Lacertae objects: general, Polarization",

author = "Jannuzi, {Buell T.} and Green, {Richard F.} and Howard French",

year = "1993",

month = feb,

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doi = "10.1086/172262",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "404",

pages = "100--111",

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T1 - An optical polarization survey for BL Lacertae objects and highly polarized quasars

AU - Jannuzi, Buell T.

AU - Green, Richard F.

AU - French, Howard

PY - 1993/2/10

Y1 - 1993/2/10

N2 - We present the results of an extensive optical survey for highly polarized objects. The survey is complete to a B magnitude of 20 and covers 560 square degrees. We did not find any confirmed BL Lac objects, highly polarized quasars, or blazars, but we are able to constrain the surface density of the various populations of linearly polarized objects. Our constraints on the numbers of a population of polarized objects are a function of the duty cycle and the degree of polarization of the objects being constrained. We rule out the presence of an abundant population of radio-quiet BL Lacertae objects.

AB - We present the results of an extensive optical survey for highly polarized objects. The survey is complete to a B magnitude of 20 and covers 560 square degrees. We did not find any confirmed BL Lac objects, highly polarized quasars, or blazars, but we are able to constrain the surface density of the various populations of linearly polarized objects. Our constraints on the numbers of a population of polarized objects are a function of the duty cycle and the degree of polarization of the objects being constrained. We rule out the presence of an abundant population of radio-quiet BL Lacertae objects.

KW - BL Lacertae objects: general

KW - Polarization

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DO - 10.1086/172262

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SP - 100

EP - 111

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

ER -

An optical polarization survey for BL Lacertae objects and highly polarized quasars

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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