Polarized broad Hα emission from the liner nucleus of NGC 1052

Optical spectropolarimetry of the nucleus of the LINER NGC 1052 obtained at the Keck Observatory reveals a rise in polarization in the wings of the H alpha line profile. The polarization vector of H alpha is offset by 67 degrees from the parsec-scale radio axis and by 83 degrees from the kiloparsec-scale radio axis, roughly in accord with expectations for scattering within the opening cone of an obscuring torus. The broad component of H alpha has FWHM approximate to 2100 km s(-1) in total flux and FWHM approximate to 5000 km s(-1) in polarized light. Scattering by electrons is the mechanism most likely responsible for this broadening, and we find T-e approximate to 10(5) K for the scattering medium, similar to values observed in Seyfert 2 nuclei. This is the first detection of a polarized broad emission line in a LINER, demonstrating that unified models of active galactic nuclei are applicable to at least some LINERs.