Intranight Optical Variability of Radio-Quiet Weak Emission Line Quasars

TL;DR

This study investigates intranight optical variability in radio-quiet weak-line quasars, revealing they exhibit stronger variability than typical radio-quiet quasars, similar to non-blazar radio-loud quasars, with ongoing efforts to detect radio-quiet blazars.

Contribution

First observational search for intranight optical variability in radio-quiet weak-line quasars, comparing their activity to other quasar types and aiming to identify radio-quiet blazars.

Findings

RQWLQs show stronger INOV than typical RQQs.

INOV in RQWLQs is comparable to non-blazar radio-loud quasars.

Detection threshold improvements are planned to find radio-quiet blazars.

Abstract

Based on a recently started programme, we report the first search for intranight optical variability among radio-quiet weak-line-quasars (RQWLQs). Eight members of this class were observed on 13 nights in the R-band, such that each source was monitored continuously at least once for a minimum duration of about 3.5 hours, using the recently installed 130 cm telescope at Devasthal, India. Statistical analysis of the differential light curves was carried out using two versions of the F-test. Based on the INOV data acquired so far, the radio-quiet WLQ population appears to exhibit stronger INOV activity as compared to the general population of radio-quiet quasars (RQQs), but similar to the INOV known for radio-loud quasars of non-blazar type. To improve upon this early result, as well as extend the comparison to blazars, a factor of ?2 improvement in the INOV detection threshold would be needed. Such efforts are underway, motivated by the objective to search for the elusive radio-quiet blazars using INOV observations.