Integral Field Spectroscopy of the Quadruply Lensed Quasar 1RXS J1131−1231: New Light on Lens Substructures

Kochanek

et al. 2010

ApJ

346

484

We use the microlensing variability observed for 11 gravitationally lensed quasars to show that the accretion disk size at a rest-frame wavelength of 2500 Å is related to the black hole mass by log(R 2500 /cm) = (15.78 ± 0.12) + (0.80 ± 0.17) log(M BH /10 9 M ). This scaling is consistent with the expectation from thin-disk theory (R ∝ M 2/3 BH ), but when interpreted in terms of the standard thin-disk model (T ∝ R −3/4 ), it implies that black holes radiate with very low efficiency, log(η) = −1.77 ± 0.29 + log(L/L E ), where η = L/(Ṁc 2 ). Only by making the maximum reasonable shifts in the average inclination, Eddington factors, and black hole masses can we raise the efficiency estimate to be marginally consistent with typical efficiency estimates (η ≈ 10%). With one exception, these sizes are larger by a factor of ∼4 than the size needed to produce the observed 0.8 μm quasar flux by thermal radiation from a thin disk with the same T ∝ R −3/4 temperature profile. While scattering a significant fraction of the disk emission on large scales or including a large fraction of contaminating line emission can reduce the size discrepancy, resolving it also appears to require that accretion disks have flatter temperature/surface brightness profiles.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Quasar Accretion Disk Size-Black Hole Mass Relation

Kochanek

et al. 2010

ApJ

346

484

“…No other NIR/MIR photometric data of this system are available in the literature. (Sluse et al 2007;Sugai et al 2007). Differential extinction is not a plausible explanation because of the lack of monotonic change of the flux ratios with wavelength and because of the lack of strong hydrogen absorption in X-ray (Chartas et al 2009).…”

Section: Appendix A: Effect Of Intrinsic Variability On the MMDmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microlensing of the broad line region in 17 lensed quasars

Sluse

Hutsemékers

Courbin

et al. 2012

A&A

133

184

When an image of a strongly lensed quasar is microlensed, the different components of its spectrum are expected to be differentially magnified owing to the different sizes of the corresponding emitting region. Chromatic changes are expected to be observed in the continuum while the emission lines should be deformed as a function of the size, geometry and kinematics of the regions from which they originate. Microlensing of the emission lines has been reported only in a handful of systems so far. In this paper we search for microlensing deformations of the optical spectra of pairs of images in 17 lensed quasars with bolometric luminosities between 10 44.7−47.4 erg/s and black hole masses 10 7.6−9.8 M . This sample is composed of 13 pairs of previously unpublished spectra and four pairs of spectra from literature. Our analysis is based on a simple spectral decomposition technique which allows us to isolate the microlensed fraction of the flux independently of a detailed modeling of the quasar emission lines. Using this technique, we detect microlensing of the continuum in 85% of the systems. Among them, 80% show microlensing of the broad emission lines. Focusing on the most common emission lines in our spectra (C iii] and Mg ii) we detect microlensing of either the blue or the red wing, or of both wings with the same amplitude. This observation implies that the broad line region is not in general spherically symmetric. In addition, the frequent detection of microlensing of the blue and red wings independently but not simultaneously with a different amplitude, does not support existing microlensing simulations of a biconical outflow. Our analysis also provides the intrinsic flux ratio between the lensed images and the magnitude of the microlensing affecting the continuum. These two quantities are particularly relevant for the determination of the fraction of matter in clumpy form in galaxies and for the detection of dark matter substructures via the identification of flux ratio anomalies.

“…A similar analysis was performed by Brewer & Lewis (2008) using a Bayesian approach. Substructures in the main lens were searched for by Sugai et al (2007), while Sluse et al (2007) and Dai et al (2010) used microlensing to study the quasar source. Eigenbrod et al (2006b) and are respectively equal to z s = 2.438 and z l = 0.445 ± 0.001.…”

Section: An Overview Of Our Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

COSMOGRAIL: the COSmological MOnitoring of GRAvItational Lenses

Chantry¹,

Sluse²,

Magain³

2010

A&A

Aims. We attempt to place very accurate positional constraints on seven gravitationally lensed quasars currently being monitored by the COSMOGRAIL collaboration, and shape parameters for the light distribution of the lensing galaxy. We attempt to determine simple mass models that reproduce the observed configuration and predict time delays. We finally test, for the quads, whether there is evidence of astrometric perturbations produced by substructures in the lensing galaxy, which may preclude a good fit with the simple models. Methods. We apply the iterative MCS deconvolution method to near-IR HST archival data of seven gravitationally lensed quasars. This deconvolution method allows us to differentiate the contributions of the point sources from those of extended structures such as Einstein rings. This method leads to an accuracy of 1-2 mas in the relative positions of the sources and lens. The limiting factor of the method is the uncertainty in the instrumental geometric distortions. We then compute mass models of the lensing galaxy using state-of-the-art modeling techniques. Results. We determine the relative positions of the lensed images and lens shape parameters of seven lensed quasars: HE 0047-1756, RX J1131-1231, SDSS J1138+0314, SDSS J1155+6346, SDSS J1226-0006, WFI J2026-4536, and HS 2209+1914. The lensed image positions are derived with 1-2 mas accuracy. Isothermal and de Vaucouleurs mass models are calculated for the whole sample. The effect of the lens environment on the lens mass models is taken into account with a shear term. Doubly imaged quasars are equally well fitted by each of these models. A large amount of shear is necessary to reproduce SDSS J1155+6346 and SDSS J1226-006. In the latter case, we identify a nearby galaxy as the dominant source of shear. The quadruply imaged quasar SDSS J1138+0314 is reproduced well by simple lens models, which is not the case for the two other quads, RX J1131-1231 and WFI J2026-4536. This might be the signature of astrometric perturbations caused by massive substructures in the galaxy, which are unaccounted for by the models. Other possible explanations are also presented.