The Third Image of the Large-Separation Lensed Quasar SDSS J1029+2623
Abstract
We identify a third image in the unique quasar lens SDSS J1029+2623, the second known quasar lens produced by a massive cluster of galaxies. The spectrum of the third image shows similar emission and absorption features, but has a redder continuum than the other two images which can be explained by differential extinction or microlensing. We also identify several lensed arcs. Our observations suggest a complicated structure of the lens cluster at z~0.6. We argue that the three lensed images are produced by a naked cusp on the basis of successful mass models, the distribution of cluster member galaxies, and the shapes and locations of the lensed arcs. Lensing by a naked cusp is quite rare among galaxy-scale lenses but is predicted to be common among large-separation lensed quasars. Thus the discovery can be viewed as support for an important theoretical prediction of the standard cold dark matter model.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.0802.0002,
title = {The Third Image of the Large-Separation Lensed Quasar SDSS J1029+2623},
author = {Masamune Oguri and Eran O. Ofek and Naohisa Inada and Tomoki Morokuma and Emilio E. Falco and Christopher S. Kochanek and Issha Kayo and Tom Broadhurst and Gordon T. Richards},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0802.0002},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters