arXiv subjects

L. J. Goicoechea

Publications and source records attributed to L. J. Goicoechea.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Joining forces: 30 years of optical monitoring of the Einstein Cross

We present an extended optical monitoring of the quadruply-imaged gravitationally lensed quasar QSO 2237+0305, the Einstein Cross, including observations from different observatories in both hemispheres and using a new photometric technique. This technique uses a region far enough from the lens system to determine accurately the sky background level, and minimises contamination from the lensing galaxy by combining analytical and numerical modeling of its structure. The resulting light curves of the four quasar images describe variations across practically the entire optical spectrum and span about 9000 days in the $VRI$ bands. The multi-band microlensing variability is captured with an unprecedented level of detail, and a preliminary microlensing analysis reveals an almost linear scaling of source radius with wavelength, providing direct evidence for the wavelength-dependent structure of the region contributing to optical passband fluxes. Specifically, assuming a mean microlens mass $\langle M \rangle$ = 0.3 $\rm{M_{\odot}}$ and concentric Gaussian sources that move according to the velocity distribution peaks (speed and direction) reported in a previous microlensing analysis, we find that the half-light radius of the $g$-band source is 9.6 $\pm$ 2.7 lt-day and the size of the sources grows with wavelength with a power-law index of $α$ = 0.94 $\pm$ 0.05. We conclude that these long-term light curves set stringent empirical constraints on models of quasar emission and microlensing physics.

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arXiv2024

Parameter free Hubble constant from the quadruply lensed quasar SDSS J1004 + 4112

We present a free-form lens model for the multiply lensed quasar in the galaxy cluster SDSS J$1004+4112$. Our lens model makes minimal assumptions about the distribution of mass in the lens plane. We pay particular attention to the model uncertainties on the predicted time delay, originating from the particular configuration of model variables. Taking into account this uncertainty, we obtain a value of the Hubble constant of $H_0= 74^{+9}_{-13}$km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$, consistent with independent recent estimates. The predicted time delay between the central image E and image C (the first to arrive), is $ΔT_{E-C}=3200\pm 200$ days. Future measurements of $ΔT_{E-C}$ will allow to impose a tighter constrain on $H_0$ from this cluster-QSO system.

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arXiv2021

Fast simulations of extragalactic microlensing

We present a new and very fast method for producing microlensing magnification maps at high optical depths. It is based on the combination of two approaches: (a) the two-dimensional Poisson solver for a deflection potential and (b) inverse polygon mapping. With our method we extremely reduce the computing time for the generation of magnification patterns and avoid the use of highly demanding computer resources. For example, the generation of a magnification map of size 2000 x 2000 pixels, covering a region of 20 Einstein radii, takes a few seconds on a state-of-the-art laptop. The method presented here will facilitate the massive production of magnification maps for extragalactic microlensing studies within the forthcoming surveys without the need for large computer clusters. The modest demand of computer power and a fast execution time allow the code developed here to be placed on a standard server and thus provide the public online access through a web-based interface.

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arXiv2021

Resolving the inner accretion flow towards the central supermassive black hole in SDSS J1339+1310

We studied the accretion disc structure in the doubly imaged lensed quasar SDSS J1339+1310 using $r$-band light curves and UV-visible to near-IR (NIR) spectra from the first 11 observational seasons after its discovery. The 2009$-$2019 light curves displayed pronounced microlensing variations on different timescales, and this microlensing signal permitted us to constrain the half-light radius of the 1930 Å continuum-emitting region. Assuming an accretion disc with an axis inclined at 60 deg to the line of sight, we obtained log$_{10}$($r_{1/2}$/cm) = 15.4$^{+0.3}_{-0.4}$. We also estimated the central black hole mass from spectroscopic data. The width of the Civ, Mgii, and H$β$ emission lines, and the continuum luminosity at 1350, 3000, and 5100 Å, led to log$_{10}$($M_{BH}$/M$_{\odot}$) = 8.6 $\pm$ 0.4. Thus, hot gas responsible for the 1930 Å continuum emission is likely orbiting a 4.0 $\times$ 10$^8$ M$_{\odot}$ black hole at an $r_{1/2}$ of only a few tens of Schwarzschild radii.

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arXiv2020

Liverpool-Maidanak monitoring of the Einstein Cross in 2006$-$2019. I. Light curves in the $gVrRI$ optical bands and microlensing signatures

Quasar microlensing offers a unique opportunity to resolve tiny sources in distant active galactic nuclei and study compact object populations in lensing galaxies. We therefore searched for microlensing-induced variability of the gravitationally lensed quasar QSO 2237+0305 (Einstein Cross) using 4374 optical frames taken with the 2.0 m Liverpool Telescope and the 1.5 m Maidanak Telescope. These $gVrRI$ frames over the 2006$-$2019 period were homogeneously processed to generate accurate long-term multi-band light curves of the four quasar images A-D. Through difference light curves, we found strong microlensing signatures. We then focused on the analytical modelling of two putative caustic-crossing events in image C, finding compelling evidence that this image experienced a double caustic crossing. Additionally, our overall results indicate that a standard accretion disc accounts reasonably well for the brightness profile of UV continuum emission sources and for the growth in source radius when the emission wavelength increases: $R_λ \propto λ^α$, $α$ = 1.33 $\pm$ 0.09. However, we caution that numerical microlensing simulations are required before firm conclusions can be reached on the UV emission scenario because the $VRI$-band monitoring during the first caustic crossing and one of our two $α$ indicators lead to a few good solutions with $α\approx$ 1.

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arXiv2019

A novel approach to study the variability of NGC 5548

Understanding the properties of the continuum radiation and broad emission lines of active galactic nuclei provide significant information not only to model the radiation mechanism and constrain the geometry and kinematics of the broad-line region (BLR) but also to probe the central engine of the sources. Here we investigate the multifractal behaviour of the H$β$ emission line and the 5100 Å continuum flux light curves of NGC 5548. The aim is to search for multi-scaling signatures in the light curves and check if there is a possible nonlinear relationship between them. To this end, we use a multifractality analysis technique called Multifractal Detrended Moving Average (MFDMA) analysis. We detect multifractal (nonlinear) signatures in the full monitoring and densely sampled period of the H$β$ line and 5100 Å continuum light curves of NGC 5548, possibly indicating the presence of complex and nonlinear interaction in the 5100 Å continuum and H$β$ emission line regions. Moreover, the degree of multifractality of H$β$ line is found to be about twice that of the 5100 Å continuum. The nonlinearity of both emissions could be generated when the broad-line region reprocesses the radiation from the central compact source. Finally, we found that anti-persistent long-range temporal correlation is the main source of the multifractality detected in both light curves.

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arXiv2018

Spectroscopic follow-up of double quasar candidates

We report the results of an optical spectroscopic follow-up of four double quasar candidates in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) database. SDSS J1617+3827 is most likely a lensed quasar at z = 2.079, consisting of two images with r ~ 19-21 and separated by ~ 2 arcsec. We identify an extended source northeast of the brightest image as an early-type lensing galaxy at z = 0.602, and detect a candidate for the main deflector in the vicinity of the faintest image. SDSS J2153+2732 consists of two distinct but physically associated quasars at z ~ 2.24 (r ~ 19-20, separation of 3.6 arcsec). Although this system might be a binary quasar, there is evidence of a collision or merger within a galaxy cluster at an early stage. The other two candidates are projected pairs of active galactic nuclei: SDSS J1642+3200 (separation of ~ 3 arcsec) comprises a distant quasar (r ~ 18) at z = 2.263 and the active nucleus (r > 20) of a galaxy at z ~ 0.3, while SDSS J0240-0208 (r ~ 18-19, separation of ~ 1 arcsec) is a pair of quasars at z = 1.687 and z = 1.059. In each of these two systems, the background quasar only suffers a weak gravitational lensing effect by the host galaxy of the foreground active nucleus, so the host galaxy mass is constrained to be less than (2.9-3) x 10^{11} solar masses inside 10 kpc.

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arXiv2013

Time Delay and Accretion Disk Size Measurements in the Lensed Quasar SBS 0909+532 from Multiwavelength Microlensing Analysis

We present three complete seasons and two half-seasons of SDSS r-band photometry of the gravitationally lensed quasar SBS 0909+532 from the U.S. Naval Observatory, as well as two seasons each of SDSS g-band and r-band monitoring from the Liverpool Robotic Telescope. Using Monte Carlo simulations to simultaneously measure the system's time delay and model the r-band microlensing variability, we confirm and significantly refine the precision of the system's time delay to Δt_{AB} = 50^{+2}_{-4} days, where the stated uncertainties represent the bounds of the formal 1σ confidence interval. There may be a conflict between the time delay measurement and a lens consisting of a single galaxy. While models based on the Hubble Space Telescope astrometry and a relatively compact stellar distribution can reproduce the observed delay, the models have somewhat less dark matter than we would typically expect. We also carry out a joint analysis of the microlensing variability in the r- and g-bands to constrain the size of the quasar's continuum source at these wavelengths, obtaining log[(r_{s,r}/cm) [cos{i}/0.5]^{1/2}] = 15.3 \pm 0.3 and log[(r_{s,g}/cm) [cos{i}/0.5]^{1/2}] = 14.8 \pm 0.9, respectively. Our current results do not formally constrain the temperature profile of the accretion disk but are consistent with the expectations of standard thin disk theory.

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arXiv2012

A 5.5-year robotic optical monitoring of Q0957+561: substructure in a non-local cD galaxy

New light curves of the gravitationally lensed double quasar Q0957+561 in the gr bands during 2008-2010 include densely sampled, sharp intrinsic fluctuations with unprecedentedly high signal-to-noise ratio. These relatively violent flux variations allow us to very accurately measure the g-band and r-band time delays between the two quasar images A and B. Using correlation functions, we obtain that the two time delays are inconsistent with each other at the 2sigma level, with the r-band delay exceeding the 417-day delay in the g band by about 3 days. We also studied the long-term evolution of the delay-corrected flux ratio B/A from our homogeneous two-band monitoring with the Liverpool Robotic Telescope between 2005 and 2010. This ratio B/A slightly increases in periods of violent activity, which seems to be correlated with the flux level in these periods. The presence of the previously reported dense cloud within the cD lensing galaxy, along the line of sight to the A image, could account for the observed time delay and flux ratio anomalies.

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arXiv2012

Continuum reverberation mapping in a z = 1.41 radio-loud quasar

Q0957+561 was the first discovered gravitationally lensed quasar. The mirage shows two images of a radio-loud quasar at redshift z = 1.41. The time lag between these two images is well established around one year. We detected a very prominent variation in the optical brightness of Q0957+561A at the beginning of 2009, which allowed us to predict the presence of significant intrinsic variations in multi-wavelength light curves of Q0957+561B over the first semester of 2010. To study the predicted brightness fluctuations of Q0957+561B, we conducted an X-ray, NUV, optical and NIR monitoring campaign using both ground-based and space-based facilities. The continuum NUV-optical light curves revealed evidence of a centrally irradiated, standard accretion disk. In this paper, we focus on the radial structure of the standard accretion disk and the nature of the central irradiating source in the distant radio-loud active galactic nucleus (AGN).

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arXiv2009

Microlensing variability in FBQ 0951+2635: short-timescale events or a long-timescale fluctuation?

We present and analyse new R-band frames of the gravitationally lensed double quasar FBQ 0951+2635. These images were obtained with the 1.5m AZT-22 Telescope at Maidanak (Uzbekistan) in the 2001-2006 period. Previous results in the R band (1999-2001 period) and the new data allow us to discuss the dominant kind of microlensing variability in FBQ 0951+2635. The time evolution of the flux ratio A/B does not favour the continuous production of short-timescale (months) flares in the faintest quasar component B (crossing the central region of the lensing galaxy). Instead of a rapid variability scenario, the observations are consistent with the existence of a long-timescale fluctuation. The flux ratio shows a bump in the 2003-2004 period and a quasi-flat trend in more recent epochs. Apart from the global behaviour of A/B, we study the intra-year variability over the first semester of 2004, which is reasonably well sampled. Short-timescale microlensing is not detected in that period. Additional data in the i band (from new i-band images taken in 2007 with the 2m Liverpool Robotic Telescope at La Palma, Canary Islands) also indicate the absence of short-timescale events in 2007.

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arXiv2008

New two-colour light curves of Q0957+561: time delays and the origin of intrinsic variations

We extend the gr-band time coverage of the gravitationally lensed double quasar Q0957+561. New gr light curves permit us to detect significant intrinsic fluctuations, to determine new time delays, and thus to gain perspective on the mechanism of intrinsic variability in Q0957+561. We use new optical frames of Q0957+561 in the g and r passbands from January 2005 to July 2007. These frames are part of an ongoing long-term monitoring with the Liverpool robotic telescope. We also introduce two photometric pipelines that are applied to the new gr frames of Q0957+561. The transformation pipeline incorporates zero-point, colour, and inhomogeneity corrections to the instrumental magnitudes, so final photometry to the 1-2% level is achieved for both quasar components. The two-colour final records are then used to measure time delays. The gr light curves of Q0957+561 show several prominent events and gradients, and some of them (in the g band) lead to a time delay between components of 417 +/- 2 d (1 sigma). We do not find evidence of extrinsic variability in the light curves of Q0957+561. We also explore the possibility of a delay between a large event in the g band and the corresponding event in the r band. The gr cross-correlation reveals a time lag of 4.0 +/- 2.0 d (1 sigma; the g-band event is leading) that confirms a previous claim of the existence of a delay between the g and r band in this lensed quasar. The time delays (between quasar components and between optical bands) from the new records and previous ones in similar bands indicate that most observed variations in Q0957+561 (amplitudes of about 100 mmag and timescales of about 100 d) are very probably due to reverberation within the gas disc around the supermassive black hole.

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arXiv2008

Structure function of the UV variability of Q0957+561

We present a detailed structure function analysis of the UV variability of Q0957+561. From new optical observations, we constructed normalized structure functions of the quasar luminosity at restframe wavelengths of 2100 and 2600 Å. Old optical records also allow the structure function to be obtained at 2100 Å, but 10 years ago in the observer's frame. These three structure functions are then compared to predictions of both simple and relatively sophisticated (incorporating two independent variable components) Poissonian models. We do not find clear evidence of a chromatic mechanism of variability. From the recent data, 100-d time-symmetric and 170-d time-asymmetric flares are produced at both restframe wavelengths. Taking into account measurements of time delays and the existence of an EUV/radio jet, reverberation is probably the main mechanism of variability. Thus, two types of EUV/X-ray fluctuations would be generated within or close to the jet and later reprocessed by the disc gas in the two emission rings. The 100-d time-symmetric shots are also responsible for most of the 2100 Åvariability detected in the old experiment. However, there is no evidence of asymmetric shots in the old UV variability. If reverberation is the involved mechanism of variability, this could mean an intermittent production of high-energy asymmetric fluctuations. The old records are also consistent with the presence of very short-lifetime (10 d) symmetric flares, which may represent additional evidence of time evolution. We also discuss the quasar structure that emerges from the variability scenario.

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arXiv2007

First robotic monitoring of a lensed quasar: intrinsic variability of SBS 0909+532

To go into the details about the variability of the double quasar SBS 0909+532, we designed a monitoring programme with the 2 m Liverpool Robotic Telescope in the r Sloan filter, spanning 1.5 years from 2005 January to 2006 June. The r-band light curves of the A and B components, several cross-correlation techniques and a large number of simulations (synthetic light curves) lead to a robust delay of 49 +/- 6 days (1-sigma interval) that agrees with our previous results (the B component is leading). Once the time delay and the magnitude offset are known, the magnitude- and time-shifted light curve of image A is subtracted from the light curve of image B. This difference light curve of SBS 0909+532 is consistent with zero, so any possible extrinsic signal must be very weak, i.e., the observed variability in A and B is basically due to observational noise and intrinsic signal. We then make the combined light curve and analyse its statistical properties (structure functions). The structure function of the intrinsic luminosity is fitted to predictions of simple models of two physical scenarios: accretion disc instabilities and nuclear starbursts. Although no simple model is able to accurately reproduce the observed trend, symmetric triangular flares in an accretion disc seems to be the best option to account for it.

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arXiv2006

Gravitationally Lensed QSOs: Optical Monitoring with the EOCA and the Liverpool Telescope (LT)

The aim of this contribution is to present the two first phases of the optical monitoring programme of the Gravitational Lenses group at the Universidad de Cantabria (GLUC, http://grupos.unican.es/glendama/). In an initial stage (2003 March-June), the Estacion de Observacion de Calar Alto (EOCA) was used to obtain VR frames of SBS 0909+532 and QSO 0957+561. These observations in 2003 led to accurate fluxes of the two components of both double QSOs, which are being compared and complemented with data from other 1-1.5 m telescopes located in the North Hemisphere: Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (USA), Maidanak Observatory (Uzbekistan) and Wise Observatory (Israel). On the other hand, the GLUC started the second phase of its monitoring programme in 2005 January. In this second phase, they are using the 2 m fully robotic Liverpool Telescope (LT). The key idea is the two-band photometric follow-up of four lensed QSOs with different main lensing galaxies: SBS 0909+532 (elliptical), QSO 0957+561 (giant cD), B1600+434 (edge-on spiral) and QSO 2237+0305 (face-on spiral). Thus, the light rays associated with the components of the four gravitational mirages cross different galaxy environments, and the corresponding light curves could unveil the content of these environments. While SBS 0909+532 and QSO 0957+561 are the targets for the two first years with the LT (2005-2006), the rest of targets (B1600+434 and QSO 2237+0305) will be monitored starting from 2007.

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arXiv2006

Is there a caustic crossing in the lensed quasar Q2237+0305 observational data record?

We re-investigate the gravitationally lensed system Q2237+0305 data record to quantify the probability of having a caustic crossing in the A component. Several works assume that this is the case, but no quantitative analysis is available in the literature. We combine the datasets from the OGLE and GLITP collaborations to accurately trace the prominent event in the lightcurve for the A component of the system. Then the observed event is compared with synthetic light curves derived from trajectories in magnification maps. These maps are generated using a ray-tracing technique. We take more than 10^9 trajectories and test a wide range of different physical properties of the lensing galaxy and the source quasar (lens transverse velocity, microlens mass, source intensity profile and source size). We found that around 75% of our good trajectories (i.e. that are consistent with the observations) are caustic crossings. In addition, a high transverse velocity exceeding 300 km/s, a microlens mass of about 0.1 M_sun and a small standard accretion disk is the best parameter combination. The results justify the interpretation of the OGLE-GLITP event in Q2237+0305A as a caustic crossing. Moreover, the physical properties of the lens and source are in very good agreement with previous works. We also remark that a standard accretion disk is prefered to those simpler approaches, and that the former should be used in subsequent simulations.

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arXiv2006

Time delay of SBS 0909+532

The time delays between the components of a lensed quasar are basic tools to analyze the expansion of the Universe and the structure of the main lens galaxy halo. In this paper, we focus on the variability and time delay of the double system SBS 0909+532A,B as well as the time behaviour of the field stars. We use VR optical observations of SBS 0909+532A,B and the field stars in 2003. The frames were taken at Calar Alto, Maidanak and Wise observatories, and the VR light curves of the field stars and quasar components are derived from aperture and point-spread function fitting methods. We measure the R-band time delay of the system from the chi-square and dispersion techniques and 1000 synthetic light curves based on the observed records. One nearby field star (SBS 0909+532c) is found to be variable, and the other two nearby field stars are non-variable sources. With respect to the quasar components, the R-band records seem more reliable and are more densely populated than the V-band ones. The observed R-band fluctuations permit a pre-conditioned measurement of the time delay. From the chi-square minimization, if we assume that the quasar emission is observed first in B and afterwards in A (in agreement with basic observations of the system and the corresponding predictions), we obtain a delay of - 45 (+ 1)/(- 11) days (95% confidence interval). The dispersion technique leads to a similar delay range. A by-product of the analysis is the determination of a totally corrected flux ratio in the R band (corrected by the time delay and the contamination due to the galaxy light). Our 95% measurement of this ratio (0.575 +/- 0.014 mag) is in excellent agreement with previous results from contaminated fluxes at the same time of observation.

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arXiv2004

New VR magnification ratios of QSO 0957+561

We present VR magnification ratios of QSO 0957+561, which are inferred from the GLITP light curves of Q0957+561A and new frames taken with the 2.56m Nordic Optical Telescope about 14 months after the GLITP monitoring. From two photometric approaches and a reasonable range for the time delay in the system (415-430 days), we do not obtain achromatic optical continuum ratios, but ratios depending on the wavelength. These new measurements are consistent with differential extinction in the lens galaxy, the Lyman limit system, the damped Ly-alpha system, or the host galaxy of the QSO. The possible values for the differential extinction and the ratio of total to selective extinction in the V band are reasonable. Moreover, crude probability arguments suggest that the ray paths of the two components cross a similar dusty environment, including a network of compact dust clouds and compact dust voids. As an alternative (in fact, the usual interpretation of the old ratios), we also try to explain the new ratios as caused by gravitational microlensing in the deflector. From magnification maps for each of the gravitationally lensed images, using different fractions of the surface mass density represented by the microlenses, as well as different sizes and profiles of the V-band and R-band sources, several synthetic distributions of V-band and R-band ratios are derived. In some gravitational scenarios, there is an apparent disagreement between the observed pair of ratios and the simulated distributions. However, several microlensing pictures work well. To decide between either extinction, or microlensing, or a mixed scenario (extinction + microlensing), new observational and interpretation efforts are required.

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