Previous
abstract 
Next abstract
It has been suggested that the powerful radio galaxy Cygnus A is actually a quasar whose active nucleus is obscured from our viewing direction (Barthel, ApJ, 336, 606, 1989). Imaging polarimetry by Tadhunter et al. (MNRAS, 246, 163, 1990) gives evidence that optical light in the two lobes is reflected light from a hidden central source. We have carried out spectrophotometry and spectropolarimetry of the south-east lobe with the Lick Observatory 3-m telescope. We find evidence that indeed reflected light is present, but we find no evidence of broad emission lines in the polarized flux which would establish the existence of an embedded quasar.
