MULTIBAND COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OPTICAL MICROVARIABILITY IN RADIO-LOUD VERSUS RADIO-QUIET QUASARS

We present the results of an optical multiband (BVR) photometric monitoring program of 22 core-dominated radio-loud quasars (CRLQs) and 22 radio-quiet quasars (RQQs). The aim was to compare the properties of microvariability in both types of quasars. We detected optical microvariability in five RQQs and four CRLQs. Our results confirm that microvariability in RQQs may be as frequent as in CRLQs. In addition, we compare microvariability duty cycles in different bands. Finally, the implications for the origin of the microvariations are briefly discussed.