Scattered broad optical lines in the polarized flux spectrum of the FR II galaxy 3C 321

Young, S.; Hough, J.; Efstathiou, A.; Wills, B.; Axon, D.J.; Bailey, J.; Ward, M.J.

Author

Young, S.

Hough, J.

Efstathiou, A.

Wills, B.

Axon, D.J.

Bailey, J.

Ward, M.J.

Abstract

The authors present optical/infrared broad-band filter polarimetry and optical spectropolarimetry of the powerful FR II galaxy 3C 321. The latter observations reveal a scattered broad component to the Hα emission line, detectable in polarized flux. This implies that 3C 321 is actually a quasar the continuum and broad-line region of which are obscured from direct view, possibly by the geometrically thick torus invoked in the unified theory of active galaxies.