Q0957+561 : effects of random stars on the gravitational lens.
Abstract
Computer simulations were used to study the effect of the discrete stellar nature of the gravitational lens galaxy on the imaging of Q0957+561. The source size of Q0957+561 is probably about 6 x 10 to the 16th cm in the optical continuum. It is predicted that all three images will vary by 50% on a time scale of 100 years due to perturbations by stars in the galaxy. The effect of very low mass stars in the galaxy halo and cluster is virtually undetectable for the postulated source size of Q0957+561 in the B1 and B2 faint images. Finally, it is found that the observed 30% variations in the flux of Q0957+561 are unlikely to be due to perturbations by stars.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158752
- Bibcode:
- 1981ApJ...244..756Y
- Keywords:
-
- Computerized Simulation;
- Galactic Clusters;
- Gravitational Lenses;
- Quasars;
- Star Distribution;
- Halos;
- Images;
- Random Processes;
- Stellar Mass;
- Astrophysics