Department of Physics and Astronomy: Publications and Other Research
Date of this Version
1-7-2007
Abstract
We introduce a new, publicly available Monte Carlo radiative transfer code, STOKES, which has been developed to model polarization induced by scattering off free electrons and dust grains. It can be used in a wide range of astrophysical applications. Here, we apply it to model the polarization produced by the equatorial obscuring and scattering tori assumed to exist in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We present optical/UV modeling of dusty tori with a curved inner shape and for two different dust types: one composition reproduces extinction properties of our Galaxy, and the other is derived from composite quasar spectra. The polarization spectra enable us to clearly distinguish between the two dust compositions.
Comments
Published in Black Holes: from Stars to Galaxies – across the Range of Masses. Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 238, 2006. Copyright 2006 International Astronomical Union. Used by permission.