[Previous] | [Session 27] | [Next]
D. C. Hines (Steward Observatory)
QSO-like nuclei have been detected in the most luminous infrared galaxies known, and in many other ultraluminous infrared galaxies with ``warm'' far-IR colors. These misdirected QSOs are revealed by the morphology and spectrum of light polarized by scattering. In particular, P09104+4109 and F15307+3252 exhibit spectacular bipolar morphology in WFPC2 and NICMOS images, and broad, polarized emission-lines in their polarized spectra. This strongly suggests that the QSO nuclei are surrounded by dusty tori which obscure our direct view, but allow nuclear emission to escape through the open poles to be subsequently scattered (thus polarized) into our line of sight. Even though the radio-infrared correlation indicates ongoing star formation, if viewed from the vantage point of the scattering material, these objects would be indistinguishable from typical luminous QSOs. Hence, they should be classified as ``QSO-2's.''
These results imply that:
\begin{enumerate}
\item QSO activity is intimately related to the ultraluminous infrared galaxy phenomenon.
\item A significant fraction of the total luminosity can be generated by the non-stellar central engines.
\item QSOs may contribute significantly to the cosmic infrared background.
\end{enumerate}
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: dhines@as.arizona.edu