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Chandra Detects a Rapid Flare in the Gravitationally Lensed Mini-BALQSO RX J0911.4+0551

G. Chartas·X. Dai·S. C. Gallagher·G. P. Garmire·M. W. Bautz·P. L. Schechter·N. D. Morgan
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Abstract

The mini Broad Absorption Line (BAL) quasar RX J0911.4+0551 was observed with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) of the Chandra X-ray Observatory for ~ 29 ks as part of a gravitational lens (GL) survey aimed at measuring time-delays. Timing analysis of the light-curve of the lensed image A2 shows a rapid flux variation with a duration of about 2000s. A Kolmogorov-Smirnov test shows that the probability that a constant-intensity source would produce the observed variability is less than ~ 0.2 percent. We discuss possible origins for the observed short-term X-ray variability. Our gravitational lens models for the RX J0911.4+0551 GL system predict a time-delay of less than a day between images A1 and A2. The rapid variability combined with the predicted short-time delay make RX J0911.4+0551 an ideal system to apply the GL method for estimating the Hubble constant. We describe the prospects of measuring H_0 within single X-ray observations of GL systems with relatively short time delays. Modeling of the spectrum of the mini-BAL quasar RX J0911.4+0551 suggests the presence of an intrinsic absorber. Partial covering models are slightly preferred over models that contain absorption due to intrinsic ionized or neutral gas.

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G. Chartas, X. Dai, S. C. Gallagher, G. P. Garmire, M. W. Bautz, P. L. Schechter, N. D. Morgan. 2001-04-27. Chandra Detects a Rapid Flare in the Gravitationally Lensed Mini-BALQSO RX J0911.4+0551. https://doi.org/10.1086/322453

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