High-frequency monitoring of quasars with absorption lines

Abstract

An investigation of the origin of the broad absorption lines observed in some quasars was performed. We selected a sample of the most luminous objects and observed them with the VERA interferometer at 22 GHz. We also used a single 32-meter antenna, located near Toruń in Poland, to monitor variability of these quasars at 30 GHz. We succeed in detecting 16 out of 19 initially selected objects. The main aim of our observations was to determine the spacial orientation of the observed sources and their evolutionary status. We investigated their radio maps, performed the variability studies, and examined their radio spectra as well as the emission in the broadband frequency range. Most of the quasars from our sample seem to evolve in a similar way to young radio objects. However, radio structures of two sources may suggest that these objects are restarted active galactic nuclei. This may indicate a diversity of evolutionary stages in our sample. Six of the investigated sources were classified as candidates for the variable objects.