Polarization and kinematics in Cygnus A

From optical spectropolarimetry of Cygnus A, we conclude that the scattering medium in the ionization cones in Cygnus A is moving outward at a speed of 170 ′ 34 km s - 1 , and that the required momentum can be supplied bythe radiation pressure of an average quasar. Such a process could produce a structure resembling the observed ionization cones, which are thought to result from shadowing by a circumnuclear dust torus. We detect a polarized red wing in the [O III] emission lines arising from the central kiloparsec of Cygnus A. This wing is consistent with line emission created close to the boundary of the broad-line region.