OPTICAL AND NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROPOLARIMETRY OF THE INFRARED-LUMINOUSGALAXY IRAS 23060+0505

We present optical and near-IR spectropolarimetry of the type 2 infrar ed-luminous galaxy IRAS 23060 + 0505, which clearly shows both broad H alpha and Pa alpha in polarized flux. The full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of these lines are consistent with that of Pa alpha in total f lux as measured by Hines. From the ratio of the polarized and total br oad H alpha fluxes, we calculate the intrinsic polarization to be simi lar to 25 per cent, assuming that the scattering geometry is the same for both the continuum and broad-line radiation. We model the flux den sity and polarization characteristics as a combination of scattered co ntinuum and a dichroic view of the near-IR-emitting regions through th e postulated torus, which obscures the type 1 nucleus from the line of sight, The extinction along the path of the scattered radiation is A( V) similar to 2.9 mag, whilst that of the direct view to the near-IR e mission region is 20 mag, and to the BLR is similar to 30 mag, substan tially higher than previous estimates. The presence of high extinction along the scattering path may have strong implications for the observ ability of scattered optical broad lines in other objects. The calcula ted broad Ha luminosity is (2.3 +/- 0.3) x 10(44) erg s(-1), consisten t with that of QSOs.