pith. sign in

arxiv: astro-ph/0506379 · v1 · submitted 2005-06-16 · 🌌 astro-ph

Polarization microvariability of BL Lac objects

classification 🌌 astro-ph
keywords polarizationobjectsmicrovariabilitycampaigngeneralobservedsourcesalong
0
0 comments X
read the original abstract

We present the results of a systematic observational campaign designed to search for microvariability in the optical polarization of BL Lac objects. We have observed a sample formed by 8 X-ray-selected and 10 radio-selected sources, looking for rapid changes in both the degree of linear polarization and the corresponding polarization angle. The whole campaign was carried out along the last three years, and most of the objects were observed at least on two consecutive nights. The statistical properties of both classes of BL Lac objects are compared, and some general conclusions on the nature of the phenomenon are drawn. In general, radio selected sources seem to display higher duty cycles for polarimetric microvariability and, on average, they have a stronger polarization.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.