First estimate of the time delay in HE 1104-1805
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We present first results from five years of spectrophotometric monitoring of the bright double QSO and gravitational lens HE 1104-1805. The quasar has varied considerably over this time, while the emission line fluxes appear to have remained constant. We have constructed monochromatic continuum light curves for components A and B, finding that B leads the variability. A quantitative analysis with the Pelt method gives a best estimate for the light travel time delay of about 0.73 years, although a value as low as 0.3 cannot yet be excluded. We discuss possible models for the QSO-lens configuration and use our measured time delay to predict the redshift of the lens, zd. Finding that most likely zd ≲ 1, we can rule out the hitherto favoured values of zd = 1.32 or 1.66. A new candidate is an absorption system at z = 0.73, but the lens could also be an elliptical not detected in absorption.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Volume | 339 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | L73-L76 |
ISSN | 0004-6361 |
Publication status | Published - 20 Nov 1998 |
- Gravitational lensing, Quasars: general, Quasars: individual: HE 1104-1805
Research areas
ID: 235848675