A Survey of Microvariability in Low Polarization Quasars: First Results

Gonzalez-Perez, J. N.; Kidger, M. R.
Bibliographical reference

American Astronomical Society, 187th AAS Meeting, #84.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 27, p.1409

Advertised on:
12
1995
Number of authors
2
IAC number of authors
2
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We are observing two sets of Low Polarization Quasars (LPQs), one of which have low (<3%) but detectable polarization, usually in the range from 0.5-1.5% and the second which, in previous multiband photopolarimetry have shown essentially zero polarisation. We have previously observed all of these objects to characterise their polarization in UBVRI and find that several show some properties similar to blazars (eg: Frequency Dependent Polarization or Position Angle and comparatively large amplitudes of variability). This leads us to believe that several objects, including PG1008+133 and PG1351+640 might, like 3C273, be LPQs with a significant mini-blazar component to their emitted radiation. Our aim is to observe both mini-blazar and non-mini-blazar candidates in a search for microvariability and to attempt to characterize the difference in the observed microvariability between the two groups. Here we present the results of the first three observing campaigns, carried out during 1995 with the 1m Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope (Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma).