Artículos de revistas
Polarization microvariability of BL Lac objects
Fecha
2005-12Registro en:
Andruchow, Ileana; Cellone, Sergio Aldo; Romero, Gustavo Esteban; Polarization microvariability of BL Lac objects; EDP Sciences; Astronomy and Astrophysics; 442; 12-2005; 97-107
0004-6361
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Autor
Andruchow, Ileana
Cellone, Sergio Aldo
Romero, Gustavo Esteban
Resumen
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 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.