A compendium of AGN inclinations with corresponding UV/optical continuum
  polarization measurements
  The anisotropic nature of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is thought to be
responsible for the observational differences between type-1 (pole-on) and
type-2 (edge-on) nearby Seyfert-like galaxies. In this picture, the detection
of emission and/or absorption features is directly correlated to the
inclination of the system. The AGN structure can be further probed by using the
geometry-sensitive technique of polarimetry, yet the pairing between observed
polarization and Seyfert type remains poorly examined. Based on archival data,
I report here the first compilation of 53 estimated AGN inclinations matched
with ultraviolet/optical continuum polarization measurements. Corrections,
based on the polarization of broad emission lines, are applied to the sample of
Seyfert-2 AGN to remove dilution by starburst light and derive information
about the scattered continuum alone. The resulting compendium agrees with past
empirical results, i.e. type-1 AGN show low polarization degrees (P < 1%)
predominantly associated with a polarization position angle parallel to the
projected radio axis of the system, while type-2 objects show stronger
polarization percentages (P > 7%) with perpendicular polarization angles. The
transition between type-1 and type-2 inclination occurs between 45 and 60
degrees without noticeable impact on P. The compendium is further used as a
test to investigate the relevance of four AGN models. While an AGN model with
fragmented regions matches observations better than uniform models, a structure
with a failed dusty wind along the equator and disc-born, ionized, polar
outflows is by far closer to observations. However, although the models
correctly reproduce the observed dichotomy between parallel and perpendicular
polarization, as well as correct polarization percentages at type-2
inclinations, further work is needed to account for some highly polarized
type-1 AGN
