Lensing System Research Articles

A generalization of the mass-sheet degeneracy producing ring-like artefacts in the lens mass distribution

The inversion of a gravitational lens system is, as is well known, plagued by the so-called mass-sheet degeneracy: one can always rescale the density distribution of the lens and add a constant-density mass sheet such that the, also properly rescaled, source plane is projected on to the same observed images. For strong lensing systems, it is often claimed that this degeneracy is broken as soon as two or more sources at different redshifts are available. This is definitely true in the strict sense that it is then impossible to add a constant-density mass sheet to the rescaled density of the lens without affecting the resulting images. However, often one can easily construct a more general mass distribution - instead of a constant-density sheet of mass - which gives rise to the same effect: a uniform scaling of the sources involved without affecting the observed images. We show that this can be achieved by adding one or more circularly symmetric mass distributions, each with its own centre of symmetry, to the rescaled mass distribution of the original lens. As it uses circularly symmetric distributions, this procedure can lead to the introduction of ring-shaped features in the mass distribution of the lens. In this paper, we show explicitly how degenerate inversions for a given strong lensing system can be constructed. It then becomes clear that many constraints are needed to effectively break this degeneracy.

Deconvolution of HST images of the Cloverleaf gravitational lens

Archival HST/NICMOS-2 images of the Cloverleaf gravitational lens (H1413+117), a quadruply-imaged quasar, were analysed with a new method derived from the MCS deconvolution algorithm (Magain et al. 1998). This method is based on an iterative process which simultaneously allows us to determine the Point Spread Function (PSF) and to perform a deconvolution of images containing several point sources plus extended structures. As such, it is well-adapted to the processing of gravitational lens images, especially in the case of multiply-imaged quasars. Two sets of data were analysed: the first one, which was obtained through the F160W filter in 1997, basically corresponds to a continuum image, while the second one, obtained through the narrower F180M filter in 2003, is centered around the forbidden [Oiii] emission lines at the source redshift, thus probing the narrow-line region of the quasar. The deconvolution gives astrometric and photometric measurements in both filters and reveals the primary lensing galaxy as well as a partial Einstein ring. The high accuracy of the results is particularly important in order to model the lensing system and to reconstruct the source undergoing the strong lensing. The reliability of the method is checked on a synthetic image similar to H1413+117.

Microlensing of a Biconical Broad‐Line Region

The influence of microlensing in the profiles of the emission lines generated in a biconical geometry is discussed. Microlensing amplification in this anisotropic model is not directly related to the bicone's intrinsic size but depends on the orientation of the bicone axis and on the cone aperture. The orientation of the projected bicone with respect to the shear of the magnification pattern can induce very interesting effects, like the quasi-periodic enhancements of the red/blue part of the emission line profile or the lack of correlation between the broad line region (BLR) and continuum light curves of QSOs. The emission line profiles of a BLR moving in a high caustic concentration exhibit sharp features that are well defined in wavelength. These features (spikes) correspond to the scanning of the kinematics of the BLR by the caustic clusters. The biconical model can qualitatively reproduce with a transversal (with respect to the shear) movement of the BLR, the recurrent blue-wing enhancement detected in the emission line profile of the A image of the quasar lensed system SDSS J1004+4112. The probability of observing this repetitive event is almost a 2% for a fraction of matter in stars of a 5%. This result would make plausible the detection of the spectral variability in SDSS J1004+4112 under the hypothesis of microlensing of a bicone.

Strong lensing systems as a probe of dark energy in the universe

Current advances in observational cosmology suggest that our Universe is flat and dominated by dark energy. Out of many particular models of dark energy present in the literature we focus on four: quintessence, quintessence with time varying equation of state, braneworld model and generalized Chaplygin gas model. In this paper we discuss the utility of strong lensing systems for providing additional constraints on dark energy models. In particular, we use an Einstein cross gravitational lensing system HST 14176+5226 to confront its measured characteristics with background cosmologies invoked in the context of dark energy. The image separations in the system depend on angular distances to the lens and to the source, which in turn are determined by background cosmology. This opens a possibility to constrain cosmological model provided that we have good knowledge of the lens model. We demonstrate that recent measurements of velocity dispersion in the lensing galaxy made by Subaru telescope seem to be consistent with independently obtained bounds on parameters of cosmological models considered. The method we describe is based on angular diameter distances and could become a valuable tool of cosmological model inference complementary to Hubble diagram technique based on luminosity distance.

Theoretical Aspects of Gravitational Lensing in TeVeS

Since Bekenstein's (2004) creation of his Tensor-Vector-Scalar theory (TeVeS), the Modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) paradigm has been redeemed from the embarrassment of lacking a relativistic version. One primary success of TeVeS is that it provides an enhancement of gravitational lensing, which could not be achieved by other MONDian theories. Following Bekenstein's work, we investigate the phenomena of gravitational lensing including deflection angles, lens equations and time delay. We find that the deflection angle would maintain its value while the distance of closest approach vary in the MOND regime, this coincides with the conclusion of Mortlock and Turner's (2001) intuitional approach. Moreover, the scalar field, which is introduced to enhance the deflection angle in TeVeS, contributes a negative effect on the potential time delay. Unfortunately this phenomenon is unmeasurable in lensing systems where we can only observe the time delay between two images for a given source. However, this measurable time delay offers another constraint on the mass ratio of the DM and MOND scenarios, which in general differs from that given by the deflection angle. In other words, for a lensing system, if two masses, m_gN and m_gM, are mutually alternatives for the deflection angles in their own paradigm, regarding the time delay they are in general in an exclusive relation.

Discovery of Strong Lensing by an Elliptical Galaxy at z = 0.0345

We have discovered strong gravitational lensing by the galaxy ESO 325-G004, in images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope. The lens galaxy is a boxy group-dominant elliptical at z = 0.0345, making this the closest known galaxy-scale lensing system. The lensed object is very blue (B - IC ≈ 1.1), and forms two prominent arcs and a less extended third image. The Einstein radius is REin = 1.9 kpc (~3'' on the sky), much smaller than the lens galaxy effective radius of 8.5 kpc. Assuming a high redshift for the source, the mass within REin is 1.4 × 1011 M☉, and the mass-to-light ratio is 1.8 (M/L)☉, I. The equivalent velocity dispersion is σlens = 310 km s-1, in excellent agreement with the measured stellar dispersion σv = 320 km s-1. Modeling the lensing potential with a singular isothermal ellipse (SIE), we find close agreement with the light distribution. The best-fit SIE model reproduces the ellipticity of the lens galaxy to ~10%, and its position angle within 1°. The model predicts the broad features of the arc geometry as observed; the unlensed magnitude of the source is estimated at IC ~ 23.75. We suggest that ~60 similarly massive elliptical galaxies within z < 0.1 will exhibit such a luminous, multiply imaged source.

OGLE 2003-BLG-235/MOA 2003-BLG-53: A Planetary Microlensing Event

We present observations of the unusual microlensing event OGLE 2003-BLG-235/MOA 2003-BLG-53. In this event, a short-duration (~7 days) low-amplitude deviation in the light curve due to a single-lens profile was observed in both the MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) and OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) survey observations. We find that the observed features of the light curve can only be reproduced using a binary microlensing model with an extreme (planetary) mass ratio of 0.0039 for the lensing system. If the lens system comprises a main-sequence primary, we infer that the secondary is a planet of about 1.5 Jupiter masses with an orbital radius of ~3 AU.

Detection of X‐Rays from Galaxy Groups Associated with the Gravitationally Lensed Systems PG 1115+080 and B1422+231

Gravitational lenses that produce multiple images of background quasars can be an invaluable cosmological tool. Deriving cosmological parameters, however, requires modeling the potential of the lens itself. It has been estimated that up to a quarter of lensing galaxies are associated with a group or cluster that perturbs the gravitational potential. Detection of X-ray emission from the group or cluster can be used to better model the lens. We report on the first detection in X-rays of the group associated with the lensing system PG 1115+080 and the first X-ray image of the group associated with the system B1422+231. We find a temperature and rest-frame luminosity of 0.8 keV and 7 × 1042 ergs s-1, respectively, for PG 1115+080 and 1.0 keV and 8 × 1042 ergs s-1, respectively, for B1422+231. We compare the spatial and spectral characteristics of the X-ray emission with the properties of the group galaxies, with lens models, and with the general properties of groups at lower redshift.

PKS 0537-441: Extended [O II] emission and a binary QSO?

We present high-resolution imaging and low-resolution spectroscopy of the BL Lac object PKS 0537-441 (z = 0.893) and its environment. The observations were designed to clarify, whether the properties of PKS 0537-441 are affected by gravitational microlensing, or whether PKS 0537-441 and its environment act as a lensing system itself. Our observations show that neither case seems to be likely. We did not find a galaxy along the line-of-sight to the BL Lac as claimed previously, our spectroscopy shows that none of the four closest companion galaxies is at high redshift. Two of the four nearby companion galaxies to PKS 0537-441 are within 200 km/s of the systemic velocity of the BL Lac (z = 0.892 and 0.895, respectively). The third companion galaxy is at higher redshift (z = 0.947). The fourth companion galaxy shows evidence of Mg II absorption redwards of its systemic velocity and is perhaps a mini low ionization BAL QSO at z = 0.885. If the latter can be confirmed, PKS 0537-441 is the first BL Lacertae object being a member of a binary Quasar. We also detected extended [O II] emission in the off-nuclear spectrum of PKS 05371-441, which is most likely due to photoionization from the active nucleus. Alternatively, the extended [O II] emission is due to jet-cloud interaction with the counterjet of PKS 0537-441. Our clustering analysis indicates that PKS 0537-441 is located in a cluster environment as rich as Abell type 0-1. This is supported by the detection of four galaxies in the field with similar redshifts as the BL Lac (Delta z < 0.002). We found serendipitously even more galaxies at somewhat higher redshifts (z = 0.9-1). Thus, PKS0537-441 might be located in front of a galaxy cluster at somewhat higher redshift or even be part of a large-scale structure with an extension towards the BL Lac.

High-Resolution Radio Imaging of Gravitational Lensing Candidates in the 1 Jansky BL Lacertae Sample

While BL Lacertae objects are widely believed to be highly beamed, low-luminosity radio galaxies, many radio-selected BL Lac objects have extended radio power levels and optical emission lines that are too luminous to be low-luminosity radio galaxies. In addition, Stocke & Rector discovered an excess of Mg II absorption systems along BL Lac sight lines compared with quasars, suggesting that gravitational lensing may be another means of creating the BL Lac phenomenon in some cases. We present a search for gravitationally lensed BL Lac objects with deep, high-resolution, two-frequency VLA radio maps of seven lensing candidates from the 1 Jy BL Lac sample. We find that none of these objects are resolved into an Einstein ring like B0218+357, nor do any show multiple images of the core. All of the lensing candidates that were resolved show a flat-spectrum core and very unusual, steep-spectrum extended morphology that is incompatible with a multiply lensed system. Thus, while these observations do not rule out microlensing, no macrolensing is observed.

High-speed directly modulated fabry-perot and distributed-feedback spot-size-converted lasers suitable for passive alignment, unisolated operation, and uncooled environments up to 85 °C

Semiconductor lasers with narrow far fields are highly desirable because they can be directly coupled to fiber with high-coupling efficiency, eliminating the cost of lenses and extra packaging. Because of their smaller size, they facilitate more compact transmitters, and since they can be used unpackaged, they enable complex integrated optoelectronic devices. We describe the design, fabrication, and performance characteristics of our family of spot-size-converted (SSC) devices with narrow far fields designed for directly modulated (2.5 and 10 Gb/s) uncooled (85/spl deg/C) use. The design consists of a conventional active region buried heterostructure laser coupled to an expander region (consisting of a loosely confining waveguide) through a laterally tapered etch of the active layers. This basic design achieves far fields of /spl sim/16/spl times/10 degrees, suitable for coupling /spl sim/50 percent of the emitted light into a flat cleaved fiber. Distributed feedback (DFB) 1.3- and 1.5-/spl mu/m devices, and 1.3-/spl mu/m Fabry-Perot (F-P) lasers have been implemented in this technology. The devices have dc thresholds from 8-12 mA at 25/spl deg/C and 35-45 mA at 85/spl deg/C, with peak power of >15 mWs over temperature, all similar to non-SSC devices with the same active regions. Both SSC F-Ps and DFBs demonstrate bandwidths of >7 GHz and wide-open eyes at 85/spl deg/C, and reliability suitable for uncooled use. With the DFB device, we also demonstrate a wide open 10-Gb/s eye pattern at room temperature. The laser on a submount demonstrates coupling to a fiber in a v-groove of /spl sim/25% using passive alignment, and sufficient tolerance to back reflection to enable transmission over at least 15 km with typical drive circuitry. Analysis shows that these lasers also have a factor of two improvements in alignment tolerance compared to standard devices in a typical lensed system. The expander impacts the dc and dynamic characteristics of the SSC F-P through the increase in cavity size. The dc and dynamic characteristics of SSC DFBs and standard DFBs are very similar, demonstrating that expander-related absorption and mode transition loss has been almost eliminated in this structure. The SSC-DFBs are, thus, the preferred device for high-speed applications. To our knowledge, the 1.3-/spl mu/m lasers described are the first SSC devices fully suited for use as an uncooled 2.5-Gb/s transmitters up to 85/spl deg/C. The combination of a tailored narrow far field with an edge emitting structure rivals vertical cavity lasers in alignment tolerance for low-cost packaging with superior dynamic and thermal performance.

Gravitational Microlensing near Caustics. I. Folds

We study the local behavior of gravitational lensing near fold catastrophes. Using a generic form for the lensing map near a fold, we determine the observable properties of the lensed images, focusing on the case in which the individual images are unresolved, i.e., microlensing. Allowing for images not associated with the fold, we derive analytic expressions for the photometric and astrometric behavior near a generic fold caustic. We show how this form reduces to the more familiar linear caustic, which lenses a nearby source into two images that have equal magnification, opposite parity, and are equidistant from the critical curve. In this case, the simplicity and high degree of symmetry allow for the derivation of semianalytic expressions for the photometric and astrometric deviations in the presence of finite sources with arbitrary surface brightness profiles. We use our results to derive some basic properties of astrometric microlensing near folds; in particular, we predict, for finite sources with uniform and limb-darkening profiles, the detailed shape of the astrometric curve as the source crosses a fold. We find that the astrometric effects of limb darkening will be difficult to detect with the currently planned accuracy of the Space Interferometry Mission for Galactic bulge sources; however, this also implies that astrometric measurements of other parameters, such as the size of the source, should not be compromised by an unknown amount of limb darkening. We verify our results by numerically calculating the expected astrometric shift for the photometrically well-covered Galactic binary lensing event OGLE-1999-BUL-23, finding excellent agreement with our analytic expressions. Our results can be applied to any lensing system with fold caustics, including Galactic binary lenses and quasar microlensing.

The Reddest Quasars. II. A Gravitationally Lensed [CLC]FeLoBAL[/CLC] Quasar

We report the discovery of a z = 2.65 low-ionization iron broad absorption line quasar, FIRST J100424.9+122922, which is gravitationally lensed by a galaxy at z ≈ 0.95. The object was discovered as part of a program to find very red quasars by matching the FIRST radio survey with the Two Micron All Sky Survey in the near-infrared. J100424.9+122922 is the second lensed system to be found in this program, suggesting that many gravitational lenses are probably missed from conventional optical quasar surveys. We have made a simple lens model and a rough estimate of the reddening in the immediate environment of the quasar which suggests that the quasar is intrinsically very luminous and is accreting at close to the Eddington limit of its ~109 M⊙ black hole. The lensing galaxy has a small amount of dust, which is responsible for some excess reddening observed in the fainter image of the quasar, but is otherwise a fairly typical massive elliptical galaxy. We model the selection effects working against the detection of red quasars in both lensed and unlensed samples. We show that these selection effects are very effective at removing even lightly reddened high-redshift quasars from magnitude-limited samples, whether they are lensed or not. This suggests that the red quasar population in general could be very large, and in particular the class of iron broad absorption line quasars of which J100424.9+122922 is a member may be much larger than their rarity in magnitude-limited samples would suggest.

The lensing system towards the doubly imaged quasar SBS 1520+530

The gravitational potential responsible for the lensing effect in SBS 1520+530 is studied over length scales from a few arc-seconds to a few arc-minutes. For this purpose, we use sharply deconvolved Hubble Space Telescope images in the optical and near-IR, in combination with ground based optical data obtained over a wider field-of-view. In particular, we have carried out a multi-color analysis in order to identify groups or clusters of galaxies along the line of sight. Photometric redshifts are measured for 139 galaxies unveiling significant excesses of galaxies 1.0 arcmin, NW and 1.7 arcmin, SW of the main lensing galaxy. The photometric redshift inferred both for the main lensing galaxy and for the galaxy concentrations is z=0.9^{+0.10}_{-0.25}. This is in rough agreement with the measured spectroscopic redshift of the main lensing galaxy, z=0.71 (Burud et al. 2002), suggesting that it is part of a larger group or cluster. We investigate the impact of including the galaxy cluster, first on the modelling of the lensing system, and second on the expected time--delay between the two quasar images.

CLASS B 1359 + 154: Modelling lensing by a group of galaxies

The recently discovered gravitationally lensed system CLASS B1359 +154 appears to have six detectable images of a single background source at a redshift of 3.235. A group of galaxies acts as the lens, at a redshift of ∼ 1. The present work identifies two distinct, physically plausible image configurations, a 7-image one and a 9-image one. Mass models are constructed corresponding to realizations of these two configurations. Both models call for, in addition to non-singular galaxy-type lenses, a larger scale mass component that resembles the extended dark matter distributions seen in relatively low-redshift galaxy groups. It is presently observationally impossible to study the extended X-ray emission from a group at such a high redshift, hence lensing studies are of some interest. A lensed system with a high image multiplicity does not necessarily admit of a unique lensing interpretation; discrimination is possible with additional observable details (e.g., the image parities, which are uncommon among even the simpler systems).

Emission-line properties of MG 2016+112: A luminous obscured quasar at high redshift

We present new high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of the components B and C of the gravitational lensing system MG 2016+112. We show that image C displays strong emission lines of Lyα, NV, CIV, HeII, and CIII] redshifted to z = 3.27, similar to images A and B. We examine the emission-line flux ratios in order to put constraints on the lens models as well as to investigate the intrinsic nature of MG 2016+112. The observed line ratios of B and C are consistent with those expected in the simple photo-ionization models for narrow-line region of active galactic nuclei (AGN) except for the enhanced NV lines. The line ratios difference of components B and C can be interpreted as a difference in ionization parameters. This result is consistent with lens model prediction that C is a fold image of a slightly outer part of the nucleus. MG 2016+112 is known to be very unique among the high-redshift AGN; it is neither an ordinary broad-line quasar nor a powerful radio galaxy as indicated by the width and flux ratio of the emission lines. Together with other observed properties discussed in literature, we argue that MG 2016+112 may be an obscured luminous radio-quiet quasar.

A new quadruple gravitational lens system: CLASS B0128+437

High-resolution MERLIN observations of a newly discovered four-image gravitational lens system, B0128+437, are presented. The system was found after a careful re-analysis of the entire CLASS data set. The MERLIN observations resolve four components in a characteristic quadruple-image configuration; the maximum image separation is 542 mas and the total flux density is 48 mJy at 5 GHz. A best-fitting lens model with a singular isothermal ellipsoid results in large errors in the image positions. A significantly improved fit is obtained after the addition of a shear component, suggesting that the lensing system is more complex and may consist of multiple deflectors. The integrated radio spectrum of the background source indicates that it is a gigahertz peaked spectrum source, It may therefore be possible to resolve structure within the radio images with deep VLBI observations and thus to constrain the lensing mass distribution better.

A Spectroscopic Redshift for the Cl 0024+16 Multiple Arc System: Implications for the Central Mass Distribution.

We present a spectroscopic redshift of z=1.675 for the well-known multiply lensed system of arcs seen in the z=0.39 cluster Cl 0024+16. In contrast to earlier work, we find that the lensed images are accurately reproduced by a projected mass distribution which traces the locations of the brightest cluster elliptical galaxies, suggesting that the most significant minima of the cluster potential are not dynamically erased. The averaged mass profile is shallow and consistent with predictions of recent numerical simulations. The source redshift enables us to determine an enclosed cluster mass of M(<100 kpc h-1&parr0;=1.11+/-0.03x1014 h-1 M middle dot in circle (Omega=1) and a mass-to-light ratio of M&solm0;LB(<100 kpc h-1&parr0;=320+/-30 h &parl0;M&solm0;LB&parr0; middle dot in circle (virtually independent of curvature), after correction for passive stellar evolution. The arc spectrum contains many ionized absorption lines and closely resembles that of the local Wolf-Rayet galaxy NGC 4217. Our lens model predicts a high magnification ( approximately 20) for each image and identifies a new pair of multiple images of a galaxy at a predicted redshift of z=1.3.

CTQ 414: A New Gravitational Lens

We report the discovery and ground-based observations of the new gravitational lens CTQ 414. The source quasar lies at a redshift of z = 1.29 with a B magnitude of 17.6. Ground-based optical imaging reveals two point sources separated by 12 with a magnitude difference of roughly 1 mag. Subtraction of two stellar point-spread functions from images obtained in subarcsecond seeing consistently leaves behind a faint, residual object. Fits for two point sources plus an extended object places the fainter object collinear with the two brighter components. Subsequent Hubble Space Telescope Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) observations have confirmed the identification of the fainter object as the lensing galaxy. Very Large Array observations at 8.46 GHz reveal that all components of the lensing system are radio-quiet down to the 0.2 mJy flux level.

Modelling the 10-image lensed system B1933+503

A gravitational lens model is presented for the newly discovered 10-image system B1933+503. The underlying object, revealed by modelling, is a triple radio source on the scale of a couple of hundred mas that is well-aligned along the line of sight with a foreground and somewhat flattened lensing galaxy, the orientation and location of which match those of an observed galaxy, known to be at a redshift of 0.755. Uncertainties in the modelling are obtained by a Monte Carlo exercise. Observational tests of the lens model an proposed, and the time delays between various pairs of images are determined, as the core of the source is known to be significantly variable. Future observations of the lens hold the key to using B1933+503 to constrain Hubble's constant. Despite the absence of a source redshift, the utility of the system as a probe of the structure of the lens galaxy is unparalleled as it provides a surfeit of easily identifiable constraints for modelling the system.