VLA observations of objects in the Palomar Bright Quasar Survey

All 114 objects from the Palomar Bright Quasar Survey (BQS) have been observed using the VLA at 5 GHz (6 cm) wavelength with 18 arcsec resolution. The new radio observations typically reach a level of 0. 1 in the ratio R of radio-to-optical luminosity which allow radio emission to be detected from most of the BQS objects. Ninety six (84%) of the BQS were detected as radio sources above a 3 σ level of 0. 2 mJy, and 75 (82%) of the complete sample of 92 quasars with MB_ 23) and quasars (MB_ 0. 5) is dominated by compact components; quasars with R > 100 mostly have small redshifts. The distinction between the radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars from this optically selected sample cannot be explained simply by the effects of geometry and relativistic beaming for objects having a fixed ratio of intrinsic radio and optical luminosity.