Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008hst..prop11672k&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #11672. Cycle 17
Physics
Scientific paper
The gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J0924+0219 has highly anomalous flux ratios: image D is more than a factor of 10 fainter than expected if the lens galaxy has a smooth mass distribution. From previous HST spectra {Keeton et al. 2006} and photometric variability {Morgan et al. 2006} we know the anomalous continuum flux ratios are caused by microlensing by stars in the lens galaxy. However, with existing data we do not know whether the anomalous emission line flux ratios are caused by microlensing by stars or millilensing by dark matter clumps. With just four orbits we can measure spectra at two more epochs and determine unambiguously whether the quasar's broad line region {BLR} is microlensed. If the emission line flux ratios vary, that would prove the BLR is microlensed and make SDSS0924 only the second known quasar with microlensing of an optical broad emission line. In this case we would be able to constrain the BLR size and and relative densities of stars and dark matter in the lens galaxy. Conversely, if the emission line flux ratios do not vary, that would prove the BLR is millilensed rather than microlensed, and make SDSS0924 the first lens known to have both microlensing {of the continuum} and millilensing {of the BLR}. This would usher in a new and rich field of multiscale lensing. The conclusions about small-scale structure in galaxies and quasars will be exciting in either case. This experiment is infeasible with ground-based telescopes, but with HST it is easy and fast to make this powerful test of small-scale structure in SDSS0924.;
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