Misalignment of the Jet and the Normal to the Dusty Torus in the Broad Absorption Line QSO FIRST,J155633.8+351758


Abstract in English

We performed VLBA observations of the Broad Absorption Line Quasar FIRST,J155633.8+351758, the first radio loud BALQSO. Our observations at 15.3 GHz partially resolved a secondary component at positional angle (PA) $approx 35^{circ}$. We combine this determination of the radio jet projection on the sky plane, with the constraint that the jet is viewed within $14.3^{circ}$ of the line of sight (as implied by the high variability brightness temperature) and with the position angle (PA) of the optical/UV continuum polarization in order to study the quasar geometry. Within the context of the standard model, the data indicates a dusty torus (scattering surface) with a symmetry axis tilted relative to the accretion disk normal and a polar broad absorption line outflow aligned with the accretion disk normal. We compare this geometry to that indicated by the higher resolution radio data, brightness temperature and optical/UV continuum polarization PA of a similar high optical polarization BALQSO, Mrk,231. A qualitatively similar geometry is found in these two polar BALQSOs; the continuum polarization is determined primarily by the tilt of the dusty torus.

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