Interpretation of the microlensing event in QSO 2237 + 0305

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185773· OSTI ID:6439775

Wambsganss, J; Schneider, P; Paczynski, B ^[1]

---

1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching (Germany, F.R.) Princeton Univ. Observatory, NJ (USA)

A model of microlensing for image A of the gravitationally lensed QSO 2237 + 0305 for which Irwin et al. reported in 1989 an increase of the apparent luminosity by about 0.5 mag on a time scale of a few months is presented. The model, with the Salpeter mass function over the mass range of 0.1-1.0 solar mass and the transverse velocity of the lens (or observer) of 600 km/s, can reproduce the reported luminosity variation if the source of the optical continuum has a radius smaller than about 2 x 10 to the 15th cm. This size is compatible with the accretion disk interpretation of the big ultraviolet bump in quasar spectra. The model demonstrates a very large diversity of light curves while the source crosses individual microcaustics or clusters of microcaustics. It will take more than 100 yr before the full variety of light curves will be sampled by the observations. 18 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6439775
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 358; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640106 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
GRAVITATIONAL LENSES
IMAGES
LENSES
LUMINOSITY
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OPTICS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASARS
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA