HQM JOMPQ Project

J O M P Q

Joint Optical Monitoring Programme of Quasars

In general the HQM project was very successful in recording data from all type of quasars but to determine cosmological parameters from gravitational lensing features or the analysis of physical processes inside AGN the sampling of our data was much too low.

To derive the time delay between light rays in a multiply imaged quasar system to determine the profile of a high amplification event caused by microlensing or the mapping of structures inside violent variable objects can be succesful only when very detailed and highly accurate data are obtained. Unfortunately these optimal conditions could only be established for very few objects. For some of the quasars with very short time scales in their variability, only fragments of lightcurve structures were observed. In the case of those very important multiple quasars, the small separation between the images, sometimes in combination with diffuse galaxy structures, made it impossible to record useful lightcurves for the determination of cosmological parameters. The recording of lightcurves with a very good sampling in the data basis can only be done either by having a dedicated telescope for this purpose at an excellent astronomical site (e.g. Megaphot) or by having a cooperation between different observational programs running at different observatories in the world.

In 1994 we have created an international working group with its aim to produce such highly qualified lightcurves for some quasars.

Astronomers	Institute	Observatory	Telescope
Y. Bian	Beijing Astronomical Observatory	Purple Mountain Observatory	2,16m
C. Zhong Y. Fu C. Su	Shanghai Astronomical Observatory	Shesan Observatory	1,0m
G. Xie	Kunming University, China	Yunan Observatory	1,0m
J. Schramm, U. Borgeest, J. v. Linde	Hamburger Sternwarte	DSAZ Calar Alto	1,23m
A. Strigatchev, G. Petrov, B. Mihov	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	NAO "Rozchen"	2,0m
A. Sillanpää, L. Takalo	Tuorla Observatory	NOT	2,56m
S. Wagner	Landessternwarte Heidelberg	Landessternwarte Heidelberg	0,7m
J. Heidt	Landessternwarte Heidelberg	ESO	2,2m
V. Oknyanskij, V. Lyuty	Sternberg Astronomical Institut, Moscow	Nauchny Observatory, Crimea	1,25m
S. Neizvestny	Special Astrophysical Observatory	SAO	1,0m
M. Szymansky	Warsaw University Observatory	CTIO (OGLE)	1,0m
D. Dultzin-Hacayan	Universidad Nacional Autonomia, Mexico	San Pedro Martir	1,5m

The original aim was to run the project for more than 3 years. A sample of 100 quasars was selected to be observed as often as posiible and to run some joint observations "around the clock" for objects with intraday variabilities. The first two campaigns took place in September 1994 and January/February 1995.