Quasi-simultaneous two band optical micro-variability of luminous radio-quiet QSOs

Abstract

We report the first results of quasi-simultaneous two passband optical monitoring of six quasi-stellar objects to search for micro-variability. We carried out photometric monitoring of these sources in an alternating sequence of R and V passbands, for five radio-quiet quasi-stellar objects (RQQSOs), 0748 + 291, 0824 + 098, 0832 + 251, 1101 + 319, 1225 + 317 and one radio-loud quasi-stellar object (RLQSO), 1410 + 429. No micro-variability was detected in any of the RQQSOs, but convincing micro-var- iability was detected in the RLQSO on two successive nights it was observed. Using the compiled data of optical micro-variability of RQQSOs till date, we got the duty cycle for micro-variability in RQQSOs is $10%. The present investigation indicates that micro-variability is not a persistent property of RQQSOs but an occasional incident.