A search for extended line emission from broad absorption line QSOs

We have obtained Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS snapshot images of 10 broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs and four radio-quiet non-BAL QSOs to search for extended narrow-line regions. For each object, we obtained an image in the F160W filter and a narrowband image in either H alpha, H beta, or [O II]. W e find no detections of extended narrow-line emission in the sample. We gen erate simulated images of QSOs with extended narrow-line regions to place l imits on the amount of flux that may be present, and we conclude that BAL Q SOs cannot be more than several times brighter in extended emission than ty pical type 2 active galactic nuclei. Spatially unresolved H alpha emission is detected in all nine objects observed in this line, which we attribute t o broad H alpha emission. The five detected BAL QSOs have derived H alpha e quivalent widths that are larger than those of the four non-BAL QSOs by a f actor of similar to2 on average. This may point to an intrinsic difference between the rest-frame optical spectral properties of BAL and non-BAL QSOs.