Short-term optical variability in broad absorption line QSOs

Abstract

We present the first results from a pilot program to monitor the short-term optical variability in broad absorption line system QSOs. Intranight optical variations of ~5% were detected on timescales of ~1 hr in QSOs 0846+156 and 0856+172. Further, the mean magnitude level decreased in the two objects by ~0.05 and ~0.15 mag, respectively, during the period of our observations. The observed light curves are quite similar to those previously seen in the flat-spectrum radio-loud sources, especially the BL Lacertae objects, and can provide important constraints for the origin of microvariability and also a possible evolutionary link between the radio-loud and the radio-quiet QSOs.