Near infrared and optical continuum emission region size measurements in the gravitationally lensed quasars Q0957+561 and SBS0909+532
Matthew A. Cornachione, Christopher W. Morgan, Hayden R. Burger, Vyacheslav N. Shalyapin, Luis J. Goicoechea, Frederick J. Vrba, Scott E. Dahm, Trudy M. Tilleman
We present a microlensing analysis of updated light curves in three filters, $g$--band, $r$--band, and $H$--band, for the gravitationally lensed quasars Q0957+561 and SBS0909+532. Both systems display prominent microlensing features which we analyze using our Bayesian Monte Carlo technique to constrain the quasar continuum emission region sizes in each band. We report sizes as half-light radii scaled to a 60 degree inclination angle. For Q0957+561 we measure $\log{(r_{1/2}/\text{cm})} = 16.54^{+0.33}_{-0.33}$, $16.66^{+0.37}_{-0.62}$, and $17.37^{+0.49}_{-0.40}$ in $g$--, $r$--, and $H$--band respectively. For SBS0909+532 we measure $\log{(r_{1/2}/\text{cm})} = 15.83^{+0.33}_{-0.33}$, $16.21^{+0.37}_{-0.62}$, and $17.90^{+0.61}_{-0.63}$ in $g$--, $r$--, and $H$--band respectively. With size measurements in three bands spanning the quasar rest frame ultraviolet to optical, we can place constraints on the scaling of accretion disk size with wavelength, $r\proptoλ^{1/β}$. In a joint analysis of both systems we find a slope shallower than that predicted by thin disk theory, $β= 0.35^{+0.16}_{-0.08}$, consistent with other constraints from multi-epoch microlensing studies.
We observed the gravitationally lensed blazar JVAS B0218+357 with the KVN and VERA Array (KaVA) at 22, 43, and 86 GHz. The source has recently been identified as an active gamma-ray source up to GeV/TeV energy bands, rendering a unique target for studying relativistic jets through gravitational lensing. Here we report the first robust VLBI detection and imaging of the lensed images up to 86 GHz. The detected mas-scale/parsec-scale morphology of the individual lensed images (A and B) is consistent with that previously seen at 22 and 15 GHz, showing the core-jet morphology with the jet direction…
In the current paper we consider the prospects of observation of gravitationally lensed sources in far-infrared and submillimeter wavelength ranges by the future space telescopes equipped with actively cooled main mirrors. We consider the possibility of solving some of the important cosmological and astrophysical scientific tasks by observation of gravitationally lensed sources. The number counts of lensed sources for wavelengths from 70$μm$ up to 2000$μm$ were calculated. We discuss the distribution of lensed sources at different redshifts and magnification coefficients and also mass distribu…
A Targeted Search for Variable Gravitationally Lensed Quasars
University of California, Los Angeles(加州大学洛杉矶分校);Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory(劳伦斯伯克利国家实验室);University of San Francisco(旧金山大学);Gemini Observatory / NSF’s NOIRLab(Gemini 天文台/美国国家科学基金会NOIRLab);Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, University of Tokyo(东京大学 Kavli宇宙物理与数学研究所);Carnegie Mellon University(卡内基梅隆大学);University of Hawaii(夏威夷大学)
The $z=6.327$ quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 (hereafter J0100+2802) is believed to be powered by a black hole more massive than $10^{10}\ {\rm M}_\odot$, making it the most massive black hole known in the first billion years of the Universe. However, recent high-resolution ALMA imaging shows four structures at the location of this quasar, potentially implying that it is lensed with a magnification of $μ\sim450$ and thus its black hole is significantly less massive. Furthermore, for the underlying distribution of magnifications of $z\gtrsim6$ quasars to produce such an extreme value, theoretic…
We present XMM-Newton X-ray observations of nine confirmed lensed quasars at $1 \lesssim z \lesssim 3$ identified by the Gaia Gravitational Lens program. Eight systems are strongly detected, with 0.3--8.0 keV fluxes $F_{0.3-8.0} \gtrsim 5 \times 10^{-14}\ {\rm erg}\ {\rm cm}^{-2}\ {\rm s}^{-1}$. Modeling the X-ray spectra with an absorbed power law, we derive power law photon indices and 2--10 keV luminosities for the eight detected quasars. In addition to presenting sample properties for larger quasar population studies and for use in planning for future caustic crossing events, we also ident…
We present a mock catalog of gravitationally lensed quasars at $z_\text{qso}<7.5$ with simulated images for the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). We adopt recent measurements of quasar luminosity functions to model the quasar population, and use the CosmoDC2 mock galaxy catalog to model the deflector galaxies, which successfully reproduces the observed galaxy velocity dispersion functions up to $z_d\sim1.5$. The mock catalog is highly complete for lensed quasars with Einstein radius $θ_E>0\farcs07$ and quasar absolute magnitude $M_{i}<-20$. We estimate that there are $\…
The discovery of the first strongly lensed $(μ\approx 50)$ quasar at $z>6$ (J0439+1634) represents a breakthrough in our understanding of the early Universe. We derive the theoretical consequences of the new discovery. We predict that the observed population of $z > 6$ quasars should contain many sources with magnifications $μ\lesssim 10$ and with image separations below the resolution threshold. Additionally, current selection criteria could have missed a substantial population of lensed $z > 6$ quasars, due to the contamination of the drop-out photometric bands by lens galaxies. We argue tha…
We report the spectroscopic follow-up of 175 lensed quasar candidates selected using Gaia Data Release 2 observations following Lemon et al. 2019. Systems include 86 confirmed lensed quasars and a further 17 likely lensed quasars based on imaging and/or similar spectra. We also confirm 11 projected quasar pairs and 11 physical quasar pairs, while 25 systems are left as unclassified quasar pairs -- pairs of quasars at the same redshift, which could be either distinct quasars or potential lensed quasars. Especially interesting objects include 8 quadruply imaged quasars of which two have BAL sour…
Strong gravitationally lensed quasars provide powerful means to study galaxy evolution and cosmology. We use Chitah to hunt for new lens systems in the Hyper Suprime$-$Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC SSP) S16A. We present 46 lens candidates, of which 3 are previously known. Including 2 additional lenses found by YattaLens, we obtain X-shooter spectra of 6 promising candidates for lens confirmation and redshift measurements. We report new spectroscopic redshift measurements for both the lens and source galaxies in 4 lens systems. We apply the lens modeling software Glee to model our 6 X-shoot…
Recent work has demonstrated the potential of gravitationally lensed quasars to extend measurements of black hole spin out to high-redshift with the current generation of X-ray observatories. Here we present an analysis of a large sample of 27 lensed quasars in the redshift range 1.0<z<4.5 observed with Chandra, utilizing over 1.6 Ms of total observing time, focusing on the rest-frame iron K emission from these sources. Although the X-ray signal-to-noise (S/N) currently available does not permit the detection of iron emission from the inner accretion disk in individual cases in our sample, we …
We report the discovery, spectroscopic confirmation and preliminary characterisation of 24 gravitationally lensed quasars identified using Gaia observations. Candidates were selected in the Pan-STARRS footprint with quasar-like WISE colours or as photometric quasars from SDSS, requiring either multiple detections in Gaia or a single Gaia detection near a morphological galaxy. The Pan-STARRS grizY images were modelled for the most promising candidates and 60 candidate systems were followed up with the William Herschel Telescope. 13 of the lenses were discovered as Gaia multiples and 10 as singl…
A Survey for High-redshift Gravitationally Lensed Quasars and Close Quasars Pairs. I. the Discoveries of an Intermediately-lensed Quasar and a Kpc-scale Quasar Pair at $z\sim5$
We report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of 22 new gravitationally lensed quasars found using $\textit{Gaia}$ data release 2. The selection was made using several techniques: multiple $\textit{Gaia}$ detections around objects in quasar candidate catalogues, modelling of unWISE coadd pixels using $\textit{Gaia}$ astrometry, and $\textit{Gaia}$ detections offset from photometric and spectroscopic galaxies. Spectra of 33 candidates were obtained with the William Herschel Telescope, 22 of which are lensed quasars, 2 highly probably lensed quasars, 5 nearly identical quasar pairs, 1 i…
A simple, novice-friendly scheme for classifying the image configurations of quadruply lensed quasars is proposed. With only six classes, it is intentionally coarse-grained. It focuses on the kitelikeness and circularity of these configurations, or the absence thereof. Other features are deliberately ignored, their importance to professional astronomers notwithstanding. Readers are invited to test drive the scheme on a sample of 12 quadruply lensed quasar systems. The theoretical underpinnings of the scheme are described in a technical appendix.
I present timely spectroscopic follow-up of the newly discovered, quadruply lensed quasar PSOJ0147 from the Pan-STARRS 1 survey. The newly acquired optical spectra with GMOS onboard the Gemini north telescope allow us to pin down the redshifts of both the foreground lensing galaxy and the background lensed quasar to be z=0.572 and 2.341, providing firm basis for cosmography with future high cadence photometric monitoring. I also inspect difference spectra from two of the quasar images, revealing the microlensing effect. Long-term spectroscopic follow-ups will shed lights on the structure of th…
Gaia's exceptional resolution (FWHM $\sim$ 0.1$^{\prime\prime}$) allows identification and cataloguing of the multiple images of gravitationally lensed quasars. We investigate a sample of 49 known lensed quasars in the SDSS footprint, with image separations less than 2$^{\prime\prime}$, and find that 8 are detected with multiple components in the first Gaia data release. In the case of the 41 single Gaia detections, we generally are able to distinguish these lensed quasars from single quasars when comparing Gaia flux and position measurements to those of Pan-STARRS and SDSS. This is because th…
Strong gravitational lensing provides a powerful probe of the physical properties of quasars and their host galaxies. A high fraction of the most luminous high-redshift quasars was predicted to be lensed due to magnification bias. However, no multiple imaged quasar was found at z>5 in previous surveys. We report the discovery of J043947.08+163415.7, a strongly lensed quasar at z=6.51, the first such object detected at the epoch of reionization, and the brightest quasar yet known at z>5. High-resolution HST imaging reveals a multiple imaged system with a maximum image separation theta ~ 0.2", b…
We have analyzed images from the VST ATLAS survey to identify candidate gravitationally lensed quasar systems in a sample of WISE sources with W1 - W2 > 0.7. Results from followup spectroscopy with the Baade 6.5 m telescope are presented for eight systems. One of these is a quadruply lensed quasar and two are doubly lensed systems. Two are projected superpositions of two quasars at different redshifts. In one system two quasars, though at the same redshift, have very different emission line profiles, and constitute a physical binary. In two systems the component spectra are consistent with the…
Confirming lensed-quasar candidates with DESI and P200 spectroscopy I. 14 lensed quasars and 8 lensed galaxies
Nanchang University(南昌大学);Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences(中国科学院紫金山天文台);Beijing Normal University(北京师范大学);University of Hawaiʻi(夏威夷大学);University of San Francisco(旧金山大学);National Astronomical Observatories(国家天文台);University of Science and Technology of China(中国科学技术大学)
We present the result of Subaru Telescope multi-band adaptive optics observations of the complex gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J1405+0959, which is produced by two lensing galaxies. These observations reveal dramatically enhanced morphological detail, leading to the discovery of an additional object 0. 26'' from the secondary lensing galaxy, as well as three collinear clumps located in between the two lensing galaxies. The new object is likely to be the third quasar image, although the possibility that it is a galaxy cannot be entirely excluded. If confirmed via future observations, it wo…
The observed lensed fraction of high-redshift quasars $(\sim0.2\%)$ is significantly lower than previous theoretical predictions $(\gtrsim4\%)$. We revisit the lensed fraction of high-redshift quasars predicted by theoretical models, where we adopt recent measurements of galaxy velocity dispersion functions (VDFs) and explore a wide range of quasar luminosity function (QLF) parameters. We use both analytical methods and mock catalogs which give consistent results. For ordinary QLF parameters and the depth of current high-redshift quasar surveys $(m_z\lesssim22)$, our model suggests a multiply-…
Determining the star-forming properties of radio-quiet quasars is important for understanding the co-evolution of star formation and black hole accretion. Here, we present the detection of the gravitationally-lensed radio-quiet quasars SDSS J1055+4628, SDSS J1313+5151 and SBS 1520+530 at 144 MHz that fall in the HETDEX Spring Field targeted in the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) first full data release. We compare their radio and far-infrared luminosities relative to the radio-infrared correlation and find that their radio luminosities can be explained by star formation. The implied star fo…
We present spectroscopic confirmation of three new two-image gravitationally lensed quasars, compiled from existing strong lens and X-ray catalogs. Images of HSC J091843.27$-$022007.5 show a red galaxy with two blue point sources at either side, separated by 2.26 arcsec. This system has a source and a lens redshifts $z_s=0.804$ and $z_{\ell}=0.459$, respectively, as obtained by our follow-up spectroscopic data. CXCO J100201.50$+$020330.0 shows two point sources separated by 0.85 arcsec on either side of an early-type galaxy. The follow-up spectroscopic data confirm the fainter quasar has the s…
The time delays of gravitationally lensed quasars are generally believed to be unique numbers whose measurement is limited only by the quality of the light curves and the models for the contaminating contribution of gravitational microlensing to the light curves. This belief is incorrect -- gravitational microlensing also produces changes in the actual time delays on the ~day(s) light-crossing time scale of the emission region. This is due to a combination of the inclination of the disk relative to the line of sight and the differential magnification of the temperature fluctuations producing t…
We present an analysis of archival observations with the Atacama Large (sub-)Millimetre Array (ALMA) of the gravitationally lensed quasar MG J0414+0534, which show four compact images of the quasar and an Einstein ring from the dust associated with the quasar host galaxy. We confirm that the flux-ratio anomalies observed in the mid-infrared and radio persists into the sub-mm for the continuum images of the quasar. We report the detection of CO (11-10) spectral line emission, which traces a region of compact gas around the quasar nucleus. This line emission also shows evidence of a flux-ratio a…
We present the overview and current results of an ongoing optical/NIR monitoring of seven GLQs with the 2-m Liverpool Robotic Telescope. The photometric data over the first seven years of this programme (2005-2011) are leading to high-quality light curves, which in turn are being used as key tools for different standard and novel studies. While brightness records of non-lensed distant quasars may contain unrecognized extrinsic variations, one can disentangle intrinsic from extrinsic signal in certain GLQs. Thus, some GLQs in our sample allow us to assess their extrinsic and intrinsic variation…
We present results of a systematic search for gravitationally lensed quasars in Pan-STARRS1. Our final sample of candidates comprises of 91 systems, not including 25 rediscovered lensed quasars and quasar pairs. In the absence of spectroscopy to verify the lensing nature of the candidates, the main sources of contaminants are likely to be quasar pairs, which we consider to be a byproduct of our work, and a smaller number of quasar$+$star associations. Amongst the independently discovered quads is 2M1134$-$2103, for which we obtained spectroscopy for the first time, finding a redshift of 2.77 f…
Combining the exquisite angular resolution of Gaia with optical light curves and WISE photometry, the Gaia Gravitational Lenses group (GraL) uses machine learning techniques to identify candidate strongly lensed quasars, and has confirmed over two dozen new strongly lensed quasars from the Gaia Data Release 2. This paper reports on the 12 quadruply-imaged quasars identified by this effort to date, which is approximately a 20% increase in the total number of confirmed quadruply-imaged quasars. We discuss the candidate selection, spectroscopic follow-up, and lens modeling. We also report our spe…
We discuss spatially resolved emission line spectroscopy secured for a total sample of 15 gravitationally lensed star-forming galaxies at a mean redshift of $z\simeq2$ based on Keck laser-assisted adaptive optics observations undertaken with the recently-improved OSIRIS integral field unit (IFU) spectrograph. By exploiting gravitationally lensed sources drawn primarily from the CASSOWARY survey, we sample these sub-L$^{\ast}$ galaxies with source-plane resolutions of a few hundred parsecs ensuring well-sampled 2-D velocity data and resolved variations in the gas-phase metallicity. Such high sp…
We study the internal structure of the Circum-Galactic Medium (CGM), using 29 spectra of 13 gravitationally lensed quasars with image separation angles of a few arcseconds, which correspond to 100 pc to 10 kpc in physical distances. After separating metal absorption lines detected in the spectra into high-ions with ionization parameter (IP) $>$ 40 eV and low-ions with IP $<$ 20 eV, we find that i) the fraction of absorption lines that are detected in only one of the lensed images is larger for low-ions ($\sim$16%) than high-ions ($\sim$2%), ii) the fractional difference of equivalent widths ($…
We report the discovery, spectroscopic confirmation, and mass modelling of the gravitationally lensed quasar system PS J0630-1201. The lens was discovered by matching a photometric quasar catalogue compiled from Pan-STARRS and WISE photometry to the Gaia DR1 catalogue, exploiting the high spatial resolution of the latter (FWHM $\sim $0.1") to identify the three brightest components of the lens. Follow-up spectroscopic observations with the WHT confirm the multiple objects are quasars at redshift $z_{q}=3.34$. Further follow-up with Keck AO high-resolution imaging reveals that the system is com…
Data mining through large, multi-band ground-based surveys and the recent availability of source catalogues from the {\it Gaia} space mission has led to a surge in the number of known gravitationally lensed quasars, including some unusual systems. One of these newly discovered systems is GraL~J181730853+272940139. This system was reported in Delchambre et al. 2018, and was identified as a quadruply lensed quasar candidate via a machine learning search inside {\it Gaia} Data Release 2, where it consists of three sources with maximum separation $1.8''$. Lemon et al. in prep (private communicatio…
Gravitationally lensed QSOs (GLQs) at redshift z = 1-2 play a key role in understanding the cosmic evolution of the innermost parts of active galaxies (black holes, accretion disks, coronas and internal jets), as well as the structure of galaxies at intermediate redshifts. With respect to studies of normal QSOs, GLQ programmes have several advantages. For example, a monitoring of GLQs may lead to unambiguous detections of intrinsic and extrinsic variations. Both kinds of variations can be used to discuss central engines in distant QSOs, and mass distributions and compositions of lensing galaxi…
To be lensed or not to be lensed: on the nature of the alleged high-z lensed quasars J0109-5424 and P170+20
International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab(国际双子座天文台/美国国家光学红外天文研究实验室);INAF – Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna(意大利国家天体物理研究所博洛尼亚天文物理与空间科学观测站);NSF NOIRLab, Gemini Observatory(美国国家光学红外天文研究实验室,双子座天文台);UCO/Lick Observatory, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, UC Santa Cruz(加州大学圣克鲁兹分校UCO/利克天文台天文学与天体物理学系);Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie(马克斯·普朗克天文学研究所);IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe(基础宇宙物理学研究所)
We study the geometry and the internal structure of the outflowing wind from the accretion disk of a quasar by observing multiple sightlines with the aid of strong gravitational lensing. Using Subaru/HDS, we performed high-resolution ($R$ $\sim$ 36,000) spectroscopic observations of images A and B of the gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J1029+2623 (at $z_{em}$ $\sim$ 2.197) whose image separation angle, $θ$ $\sim$ 22$^{\prime\prime}\!\!$.5, is the largest among those discovered so far. We confirm that the difference in absorption profiles in the images A and B discovered by Misawa et al. (20…
We report the serendipitous discovery of the first gravitationally lensed quasar candidate from Pan-STARRS. The grizy images reveal four point-like images with magnitudes between 14.9 mag and 18.1 mag. The colors of the point sources are similar, and they are more consistent with quasars than with stars or galaxies. The lensing galaxy is detected in the izy bands, with an inferred photometric redshift of ~0.6, lower than that of the point sources. We successfully model the system with a singular isothermal ellipsoid with shear, using the relative positions of the five objects as constraints. W…
Persephone's Torch: A 15th Magnitude Quadruply-Lensed Quasar From the Couch Discovered with SPHEREx and the LBT
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie(马克斯·普朗克天文学研究所);Heidelberg University(海德堡大学);INAF - Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna(意大利国家天体物理研究所博洛尼亚天文与空间科学观测站);Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, University of Arizona(亚利桑那大学大双筒望远镜天文台)
Among known strongly lensed quasar systems, ~25% have gravitational potentials sufficiently flat (and sources sufficiently well aligned) to produce four images rather than two. The projected flattening of the lensing galaxy and tides from neighboring galaxies both contribute to the potential's quadrupole. Witt's hyperbola and Wynne's ellipse permit determination of the overall quadrupole from the positions of the quasar images. The position of the lensing galaxy resolves the distinct contributions of intrinsic ellipticity and tidal shear to that quadrupole. Among 31 quadruply lensed quasars sy…
We present adaptive optics-assisted integral field spectroscopy around the Ha or Hb lines of 12 gravitationally lensed galaxies obtained with VLT/SINFONI, Keck/OSIRIS and Gemini/NIFS. We combine these data with previous observations and investigate the dynamics and star formation properties of 17 lensed galaxies at z = 1-4. Thanks to gravitational magnification of 1.4 - 90x by foreground clusters, effective spatial resolutions of 40 - 700 pc are achieved. The magnification also allows us to probe lower star formation rates and stellar masses than unlensed samples; our target galaxies feature d…
We present a list of candidate gravitationally lensed dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) from the HerMES Large Mode Survey (HeLMS) and the Herschel Stripe 82 Survey (HerS). Together, these partially overlapping surveys cover 372 deg$^{2}$ on the sky. After removing local spiral galaxies and known radio-loud blazars, our candidate list of lensed DSFGs is composed of 77 sources with 500 $μ$m flux densities ($S_{500}$) greater than 100 mJy. Such sources are dusty starburst galaxies similar to the first bright Sub Millimeter Galaxies (SMGs) discovered with SCUBA. We expect a large fraction of thi…
We present a measurement of the accretion disk size of the quadruple lensed quasar HE 0435-1223 from well-sampled 13-yr COSMOGRAIL optical light curves. Using accurate time delays for the images A, B, C, and D, we modeled and removed the intrinsic quasar variability, and found microlensing events of amplitude up to 0.6, 0.4, and 0.5 mag in the images A, C and D respectively. From the statistics of microlensing magnifications in these images we use Bayesian methods to estimate the size of the quasar accretion disk. We have inferred the half-light radius for the accretion disk using two differen…
The quadruply lensed quasar HE0435-1223 shows a clear microlensing effect that affects differently the blue and red wings of the H$α$ line profile in its image D. To interpret these observations, and constrain the broad emission line region (BLR) properties, the effect of gravitational microlensing on quasar broad emission line profiles and their underlying continuum has been simulated considering representative BLR models and microlensing magnification maps. The amplification and distortion of the H$α$ line profile, characterized by a set of four indices, can be reproduced by the simulations.…
We report the discovery of a new gravitationally lensed quasar (double) from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) identified inside the $\sim$670 sq. deg area encompassing the Magellanic Clouds. The source was selected as one of $\sim$60 "red W1-W2" mid-IR objects from WISE and having a significant amount of variability in OGLE for both two (or more) nearby sources. This is the first detection of a gravitational lens, where the discovery is made "the other way around", meaning we first measured the time delay between the two lensed quasar images of $-132<t_{\rm AB}<-76$ days (90…
Wide-field photometric surveys enable searches of rare yet interesting objects, such as strongly lensed quasars or quasars with a bright host galaxy. Past searches for lensed quasars based on their optical and near infrared properties have relied on photometric cuts and spectroscopic pre-selection (as in the Sloan Quasar Lens Search), or neural networks applied to photometric samples. These methods rely on cuts in morphology and colours, with the risk of losing many interesting objects due to scatter in their population properties, restrictive training sets, systematic uncertainties in catalog…
We report the results of the STRong lensing Insights from the Dark Energy Survey (STRIDES) follow-up campaign of the late 2017/early 2018 season. We obtained spectra of 65 lensed quasar candidates either with EFOSC2 on the NTT or ESI on Keck, which confirm 10 new gravitationally lensed quasars and 10 quasar pairs with similar spectra, but which do not show a lensing galaxy in DES images. Eight lensed quasars are doubly imaged with source redshifts between 0.99 and 2.90, one is triply imaged by a group (DESJ0345-2545, $z=1.68$), and one is quadruply imaged (quad: DESJ0053-2012, $z=3.8$). Singul…
Gravitational microlensing is a powerful tool for probing the inner structure of distant quasars. In this context, we have obtained spectropolarimetric observations of the two images of the broad absorption line (BAL) quasar SDSSJ081830.46+060138.0 (J0818+0601) at redshift $z \simeq$ 2.35. We first show that J0818+0601 is actually gravitationally lensed, and not a binary quasar. A strong absorption system detected at $z$ = 1.0065$\pm$0.0002 is possibly due to the lensing galaxy. Microlensing is observed in one image and it magnifies the emission lines, the continuum, and the BALs differently. …
Gravitationally lensed quasars are useful for studying astrophysics and cosmology, and enlarging the sample size of lensed quasars is important for multiple studies. In this work, we develop a lens search algorithm for four-image (quad) lensed quasars based on their time variability. In the development of the lens search algorithm, we constructed a pipeline simulating multi-epoch images of lensed quasars in cadenced surveys, accounting for quasar variabilities, quasar hosts, lens galaxies, and the PSF variation. Applying the simulation pipeline to the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) transient survey, …