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dc.contributor.authorBailey, J.
dc.contributor.authorSparks, W.
dc.contributor.authorHough, J.
dc.contributor.authorAxon, D.J.
dc.date.accessioned2009-04-22T08:56:56Z
dc.date.available2009-04-22T08:56:56Z
dc.date.issued1986
dc.identifier.citationBailey , J , Sparks , W , Hough , J & Axon , D J 1986 , ' Infrared polarimetry of the nucleus of Centaurus A - The nearest blazar? ' , Nature , vol. 322 , no. 6075 , pp. 150-151 . https://doi.org/10.1038/322150a0
dc.identifier.issn0028-0836
dc.identifier.otherPURE: 170591
dc.identifier.otherPURE UUID: 0601c942-6309-422c-b355-9a9735528939
dc.identifier.otherdspace: 2299/3262
dc.identifier.otherScopus: 36849149231
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2299/3262
dc.descriptionOriginal article can be found at: http://www.nature.com/nature/ Copyright Nature Publishing Group. DOI: 10.1038/322150a0 [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]
dc.description.abstractAs one of the nearest examples of an active galaxy, NGC5128 (Centaurus A) has been studied in detail over a wide range of wavelengths. The nucleus of the galaxy is seen clearly in the X-ray, radio and infrared, but is obscured in the optical by the prominent warped dust lane. We have made polarization observations of the infrared nucleus at wavelengths from 1.2 to 3.8 µm. We find that after correction for the polarization caused by the dust lane, and for dilution by starlight, the nucleus has a large intrinsic polarization of 9% at position angle 147°. This position angle is perpendicular to the direction of the X-ray and radio jet. We interpret the polarized emission from the nucleus as synchrotron radiation from a region whose magnetic field is parallel to the jet direction. The properties of the Cen A nucleus are essentially identical to those of the much more luminous blazars. This suggest that blazar-type activity extends over a very wide range in luminosity, and low-luminosity blazars may be common in elliptical galaxies.en
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofNature
dc.titleInfrared polarimetry of the nucleus of Centaurus A - The nearest blazar?en
dc.contributor.institutionSchool of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics
dc.contributor.institutionCentre for Astrophysics Research
dc.description.statusPeer reviewed
rioxxterms.versionofrecordhttps://doi.org/10.1038/322150a0
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review
herts.preservation.rarelyaccessedtrue


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