Near-IR Spectropolarimetry of NGC 1088

Original paper can be found at: http://www.astrosociety.org/pubs/cs/035-069.html--Copyright Astronomical Society of the PacificThe current unified model of Seyfert galaxies, as proposed by Antonucci and Miller (1985), has most, if not all, Seyfert 2 galaxies hosting a Seyfert 1 type nucleus in their cores. The broad lines from the type 1 nucleus can be scattered and be seen in the polarized flux spectrum, provided the geometry is correct. Whether the mechanism is electron or dust scattering has been a question of some debate. Since dust would normally have a low scattering efficiency in the infrared, near-IR spectropolarimetry should help in determing the nature of the scatterers. To this end we present the first near-IR spectropolarimetry of NGC 1068 a "Seyfert 2" galaxy in which polarized broad lines have been observed at optical wavelengths

Tackling transition:the value of peer mentoring

This paper is aimed at those interested in the promotion of student retention in higher education; particularly those with an interest in peer mentoring as a means of student support. It critically discusses the results of an exploratory study analysing the perceptions of peer mentors and mentees within five universities in the United Kingdom. The aim of the study was to analyse how student peer mentoring can aid transition into university by focusing specifically on how senior students can support their junior counterparts in their first year at university. The paper discusses the results of a survey which was completed by 329 student peer mentors and mentees. Focusing on the benefits and outcomes of participation in Mentoring Programmes, the survey was distinctive in that it asked mentors and mentees similar questions. From a theoretical perspective, the paper contributes to debates about peer support in higher education showing that participation in such programmes can have positive outcomes from both social and pedagogic perspectives. Practically speaking, the results have important implications for Higher Education Institutions as the research highlights the importance of putting into place formally structured Peer Mentoring Programmes which facilitate student support at a time when new students are most at risk of ‘dropping out’

Powering the Broad H alpha Line in BL Lacertae

Original paper can be found at: http://www.astrosociety.org/pubs/cs/070-112.html--Copyright Astronomical Society of the Pacifi

Massive star formation in the central regions of spiral galaxies

Peer reviewe

A Seyfert Nucleus in BL Lacertae

Original paper can be found at: http://161.58.115.79/pubs/cs/156-194.html--Copyright Astronomical Society of the PacificWe have obtained spectroscopic observations of the broad Ha line in BL Lacertae over a period of 30 months. These data show that the line equivalent width is anti-correlated with the continuum flux implying that the broad line emission is not powered primarily by synchrotron emission from the relativistic jet. The most probable explanation is that the broad line region in BL Lacertae is photoionized by continuum emission from an accretion disk which at optical wavelengths is dominated by the Doppler beamed synchroton continuum

Monitoring the Ha Line in BL Lacertae - Evidence for an Accretion Disk

Original paper can be found at: http://161.58.115.79/pubs/cs/156-194.html--Copyright Astronomical Society of the PacificWe present new spectroscopic observations of the recently discovered broad Ha line in BL Lacertae. These data, obtained over a period of 30 months, indicate that the line equivalent width is anti-correlated with the continuum flux, implying that the broad line emission is not powered primarily by synchroton emission from the relativistic jet. The most probable explanation is that the broad line region in BL Lacertae is photoionized by continuum emission from an accretion disk which at optical wavelengths is dominated by the Doppler beamed synchroton continuum

The wavelength dependence of polarization in BL Lac objects

Original article can be found via: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/ Copyright Royal Astronomical Society [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]Accurate polarization measurements of six BL Lac objects and one highly polarized QSO have been obtained simultaneously at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. The polarizations observed in the infrared are generally equal to or slightly less than those in the optical. No cases are seen of very large variations in polarization or position angle with wavelength as have been previously reported for some objects. Some of the objects studied, notably AO0235 + 164, showed large night to night variations in polarization or position angle but the infrared and optical polarizations followed each other closely. The amount of polarization wavelength dependence is found to be greater when the polarization of the object is greater. For p less than 10 per cent the optical and infrared polarizations are found to be equal within the errors.Peer reviewe

Optical Spectropolarimetry of Broad Line Active Galaxies

Original paper can be found at: http://161.58.115.79/pubs/cs/156-194.html--Copyright Astronomical Society of the PacificWe present new optical spectropolarimetry of two bright type 1 AGNs. The observations are part of a project on broad line active galaxies in which, through data analysis and modelling, we aim to identify the polarization mechanism and to probe both the BLR and scattering region geometry and kinematics

Imaging and polarimetry of the galactic-center in the near infrared

Original article can be found via: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/ Copyright Royal Astronomical Society [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]IR images of the Galactic center in H, K, L-prime and M are the bases of the present measurements of positions, magnitudes and colors for 35 sources which can be divided into two classes: those with colors typical of reddened stars, and those with much redder colors which dominate at L-prime and M, having a dust emission IR source. Polarization measurements have been made for a number of the brighter sources at J, H, and K. IRS 16 is typical of a group whose stellar colors show the wavelength dependence of interstellar polarization. IRS 1 exhibits substantial intrinsic polarization at K, attributable to aligned grain emission. The small circular polarization of IRS 7 may be due to the effect of stellar birefringence on intrinsic polarization.Peer reviewe