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We present a new determination of the time delay of the gravitational lens system HE 1104-1805 (``Double Hamburger'') based on a previously unpublished dataset. We argue that the previously published value of Delta tA-B=0.73 years was affected by a bias of the employed method. We determine a new value of Delta tA-B=0.85+/-0.05 years (2sigma confidence level), using six different techniques based on non interpolation methods in the time domain. The result demonstrates that even in the case of poorly sampled lightcurves, useful information can be obtained with regard to the time delay. The error estimates were calculated through Monte Carlo simulations. With two already existing models for the lens and using its recently determined redshift, we infer a range of values of the Hubble parameter: H0=48+/-4 km s-1 Mpc-1 (2sigma ) for a singular isothermal ellipsoid (SIE) and H0=62+/-4 km s-1 Mpc-1 (2sigma ) for a constant mass-to-light ratio plus shear model (M/L+gamma ). The possibly much larger errors due to systematic uncertainties in modeling the lens potential are not included in this error estimate.
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(2004)
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Weak gravitational lensing by large-scale structure affects the determination of the cosmological deceleration parameter q0. We find that the lensing induced dispersions on truly standard candles are 0.04 and 0.02 mag at redshift z = 1 and z = 0.5, respectively, in a COBE-normalized cold dark matter universe with Omega 0 = 0.40, Lamda 0 = 0.6, H = 65 km s-1 Mpc-1, and sigma 8 = 0.79. It is shown that one would observe q0 = -0.395^{+0.125}_{-0.095} and q0 = - 0.398^{+0.048}_{-0.077} (the error bars are 2 sigma limits) with standard candles with zero intrinsic dispersion at redshift z = 1 and z = 0.5, respectively, compared to the truth of q0 = -0.400. A standard COBE normalized Omega 0 = 1 CDM model would produce three times as much variance and a mixed (hot and cold) dark matter model would lead to an intermediate result. One unique signature of this dispersion effect is its non-Gaussianity. Although the lensing induced dispersion at lower redshift is still significantly smaller than the currently best observed (total) dispersion of 0.12 mag in a sample of type Ia supernovae, selected with the multicolor light curve shape method, it becomes significant at higher redshift. We show that there is an optimal redshift, in the range z ~ 0.5--2.0 depending on the amplitude of the intrinsic dispersion of the standard candles, at which q0 can be most accurately determined.
In the favoured core-accretion model of formation of planetary systems, solid planetesimals accumulate to build up planetary cores, which then accrete nebular gas if they are sufficiently massive. Around M-dwarf stars ( the most common stars in our Galaxy), this model favours the formation of Earth-mass (M+) to Neptune-mass planets with orbital radii of 1 to 10 astronomical units (AU), which is consistent with the small number of gas giant planets known to orbit M-dwarf host stars(1-4). More than 170 extrasolar planets have been discovered with a wide range of masses and orbital periods, but planets of Neptune's mass or less have not hitherto been detected at separations of more than 0.15 AU from normal stars. Here we report the discovery of a 5.5(-2.7)(+5.5)M(+) planetary companion at a separation of 2.6(- 0.6)(+1.5) AU from a 0.22(-0.11)(+0.21)M(.) M-dwarf star, where M-. refers to a solar mass. (We propose to name it OGLE- 2005-BLG-390Lb, indicating a planetary mass companion to the lens star of the microlensing event.) The mass is lower than that of GJ876d (ref. 5), although the error bars overlap. Our detection suggests that such cool, sub-Neptune-mass planets may be more common than gas giant planets, as predicted by the core accretion theory.
Contrary to naive expectation, diluting the stellar component of the lensing galaxy in a highly magnified system with smoothly distributed ``dark'' matter increases rather than decreases the microlensing fluctuations caused by the remaining stars. For a bright pair of images straddling a critical curve, the saddle point (of the arrival time surface) is much more strongly affected than the associated minimum. With a mass ratio of smooth matter to microlensing matter of 4:1, a saddle point with a macromagnification of ;=9.5 will spend half of its time more than a magnitude fainter than predicted. The anomalous flux ratio observed for the close pair of images in MG 0414+0534 is a factor of 5 more likely than computed by Witt, Mao, & Schechter, if the smooth matter fraction is as high as 93%. The magnification probability histograms for macroimages exhibit a distinctly different structure that varies with the smooth matter content, providing a handle on the smooth matter fraction. Enhanced fluctuations can manifest themselves either in the temporal variations of a light curve or as flux ratio anomalies in a single epoch snapshot of a multiply imaged system. While the millilensing simulations of Metcalf & Madau also give larger anomalies for saddle points than for minima, the effect appears to be less dramatic for extended subhalos than for point masses. Moreover, microlensing is distinguishable from millilensing because it will produce noticeable changes in the magnification on a timescale of a decade or less.
We present a data set of images of the gravitationally lensed quasar Q2237+0305, that was obtained at the Apache Point Observatory (APO) between June 1995 and January 1998. Although the images were taken under variable, often poor seeing conditions and with coarse pixel sampling, photometry is possible for the two brighter quasar images A and B with the help of exact quasar image positions from HST observations. We obtain a light curve with 73 data points for each of the images A and B. There is evidence for a long (ga 100 day) brightness peak in image A in 1996 with an amplitude of about 0.4 to 0.5 mag (relative to 1995), which indicates that microlensing has been taking place in the lensing galaxy. Image B does not vary much over the course of the observation period. The long, smooth variation of the light curve is similar to the results from the OGLE monitoring of the system (Wozniak et al. cite{Wozniak00}). Based on observations obtained with the Apache Point Observatory 3.5-meter telescope, which is owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium.