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Luis J. Goicoechea

Publications and source records attributed to Luis J. Goicoechea.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The X-Ray Continuum Emission Region in the Lensed Quasar SDSS J133907.23+131038.6 is Much Smaller than the Accretion Disk

We analyze microlensing variability in 15 seasons of optical monitoring data and 4 epochs of new X-ray observations of the doubly-imaged gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J133907.23+131038.6 to place empirical constraints on the size and structure of that system's X-ray and optical continuum emission regions. Employing a Bayesian Monte Carlo method, we analyzed ground-based optical light curves to constrain the half-light radius of the far-UV source $\log(r_{\rm 1/2, FUV}/{\rm cm})=15.78^{+0.26}_{-0.28}$ at 193 nm, the rest-frame center of the {\it r}-band, assuming a $60^\circ$ inclination angle. This size corresponds to $\sim100\,{\it r}_{\rm g}$ for a $4.0 \times 10^{8} \: {\rm M_{\odot}}$ black hole. We measured the half-light radius of the full band ($0.2-8.0 \: {\rm keV}$) X-ray continuum emission region $\log(r_{\rm 1/2, X_{full}}/{\rm cm})=14.32^{+0.23}_{-0.31}$, a size measurement that is consistent with the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) in the Schwarzschild metric.Two shifted Fe K$\alpha$ lines caused by microlensing are detected in the stacked spectrum of image A at 5.9 and 8.9~keV at $>99\%$ significance.

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Primordial black holes in the main lensing galaxy of FBQ 0951+2635

Although dark matter in galaxies may consist of elementary particles different from those that make up ordinary matter and that would be smoothly distributed (still undetected), the so-called primordial black holes (PBHs) formed soon after the initial Big Bang are also candidates to account for a certain fraction of mass in galaxies. In this paper, we focused on the main lensing galaxy ($z$ = 0.260) of the doubly imaged gravitationally lensed quasar FBQ 0951+2635 ($z$ = 1.246) for probing possible PBH populations. Assuming that the mass of the galaxy is due to smoothly distributed matter (SDM), stars, and PBHs, the 16-yr observed microlensing variability was compared in detail with simulated microlensing signals generated by 90 different physical scenarios. Among other details, the simulated signals were sampled as the observed one, and the observed variability in its entirety and over the long term were used separately for comparison. While none of the scenarios considered can reproduce the overall observed signal, the observed long-term variability favours a small mass fraction in PBHs with a mass of the order of the mean stellar mass. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain strong constraints on the galaxy mass fraction in Jupiter-mass PBHs, provided that a reverberation-based measurement of the source size is available and relatively small. To constrain the mass fraction in $\sim$10 $\rm{M_{\odot}}$ PBHs, light curves five times longer are probably required.

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SDSS J1001+5027: Strong microlensing-induced chromatic variation caught in the act

We conducted long-term monitoring of the doubly imaged gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J1001+5027 consisting of spectro-photometric observations separated by $\sim$120 days (time delay between both quasar images), as well as test and auxiliary data. This monitoring approach allowed us to reliably find a strong microlensing-induced chromatic variation of the quasar continuum in the period 2022$-$2025. The ongoing microlensing event has caused the delay-corrected spectral flux ratio in 2025 to have a dramatic changing look, opening the door to very promising observations of the system in the coming years. These future follow-up observations of such a rare event are expected to provide critical information to discuss, among other things, the structure of the inner accretion flow towards the central supermassive black hole in SDSS J1001+5027.

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FBQ 0951+2635: time delay and structure of the main lensing galaxy

As there is a long-standing controversy over the time delay between the two images of the gravitationally lensed quasar FBQ 0951+2635, we combined early and new optical light curves to robustly measure a delay of 13.5 +/- 1.6 d (1sigma interval). The new optical records covering the last 17 yr were also used to trace the long-timescale evolution of the microlensing variability. Additionally, the new time delay interval and a relatively rich set of further observational constraints allowed us to discuss the mass structure of the main lensing galaxy at redshift 0.26. This lens system is of particular interest because the external shear from secondary gravitational deflectors is relatively low, but the external convergence is one of the highest known. When modelling the galaxy as a singular power-law ellipsoid without hypotheses/priors on the power-law index, ellipticity and position angle, we demonstrated that its mass profile is close to isothermal, and there is good alignment between mass and near-IR light. We also recovered the true mass scale of the galaxy. Finally, it is worth mentioning that a constant mass-to-light ratio model also worked acceptably well.

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Revisiting Andromeda's Parachute

The gravitational lens system PS J0147+4630 (Andromeda's Parachute) consists of four quasar images ABCD and a lensing galaxy. We obtained $r$-band light curves of ABCD in the 2017$-$2021 period from a monitoring with two 2-m class telescopes. These curves and state-of-the-art curve-shifting algorithms led to three independent time delays relative to image A, one of which is accurate enough (uncertainty of about 4%) to be used in cosmological studies. Our finely sampled light curves and some additional fluxes in the years 2010$-$2013 also demonstrated the presence of significant microlensing variations. This paper also focused on new near-IR spectra of ABCD in 2018$-$2019 that were derived from archive data of two 10-m class telescopes. We analysed the spectral region including the MgII, H$β$, [OIII], and H$α$ emission lines (0.9$-$2.4 $μ$m), measuring image flux ratios and a reliable quasar redshift of 2.357 $\pm$ 0.002, and finding evidence of an outflow in the H$α$ emission. In addition, we updated the lens mass model of the system and estimated a quasar black-hole logarithmic mass ${\log \left[ M_{\rm{BH}}/\rm{M_{\odot}} \right]}$ = 9.34 $\pm$ 0.30.

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Andromeda's Parachute: Time Delays and Hubble Constant

The gravitational lens system PS J0147+4630 (Andromeda's Parachute) consists of four quasar images ABCD and a lensing galaxy. We obtained $r$-band light curves of ABCD in the 2017$-$2022 period from monitoring with two 2-m class telescopes. Applying state-of-the-art curve shifting algorithms to these light curves led to measurements of time delays between images, and the three independent delays relative to image D are accurate enough to be used in cosmological studies (uncertainty of about 4%): $Δt_{\rm{AD}}$ = $-$170.5 $\pm$ 7.0, $Δt_{\rm{BD}}$ = $-$170.4 $\pm$ 6.0, and $Δt_{\rm{CD}}$ = $-$177.0 $\pm$ 6.5 d, where image D is trailing all the other images. Our finely sampled light curves and some additional fluxes in the years 2010$-$2013 also demonstrated the presence of significant microlensing variations. From the measured delays relative to image D and typical values of the external convergence, recent lens mass models yielded a Hubble constant that is in clear disagreement with currently accepted values around 70 km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$. We discuss how to account for a standard value of the Hubble constant without invoking the presence of an extraordinary high external convergence.

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A tale of two double quasars: Hubble constant tension or biases?

For a flat $Λ$CDM (standard) cosmology, a small sample of gravitationally lensed quasars with measured time delays has recently provided a value of the Hubble constant $H_0$ in tension with the $Planck$ flat $Λ$CDM result. Trying to check if this tension is real or not, we used basic observational constraints for two double quasars of the GLENDAMA sample (SBS 0909+532 and SDSS J1339+1310) to discuss the underlying value of $H_0$ in a standard cosmology. For SBS 0909+532, we were not able to obtain a reliable measurement of $H_0$. However, the current data of SDSS J1339+1310 are consistent with $H_0$ around 67.8 km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$ and $σ(H_0)/H_0 \sim$ 10%. Although the formal uncertainty is still large and mainly due to the lack of details on the mass density profile of the main lens galaxy, the central value of $H_0$ coincides with that of the TDCOSMO+SLACS collaboration (using gravitational lens systems) and is within the 1$σ$ interval from $Planck$ cosmic microwave background data. After getting these preliminary encouraging results through only one double quasar, we are currently planning to use several GLENDAMA systems to accurately measure the Hubble constant and put constraints on other cosmological parameters.

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Near infrared and optical continuum emission region size measurements in the gravitationally lensed quasars Q0957+561 and SBS0909+532

We present a microlensing analysis of updated light curves in three filters, $g$--band, $r$--band, and $H$--band, for the gravitationally lensed quasars Q0957+561 and SBS0909+532. Both systems display prominent microlensing features which we analyze using our Bayesian Monte Carlo technique to constrain the quasar continuum emission region sizes in each band. We report sizes as half-light radii scaled to a 60 degree inclination angle. For Q0957+561 we measure $\log{(r_{1/2}/\text{cm})} = 16.54^{+0.33}_{-0.33}$, $16.66^{+0.37}_{-0.62}$, and $17.37^{+0.49}_{-0.40}$ in $g$--, $r$--, and $H$--band respectively. For SBS0909+532 we measure $\log{(r_{1/2}/\text{cm})} = 15.83^{+0.33}_{-0.33}$, $16.21^{+0.37}_{-0.62}$, and $17.90^{+0.61}_{-0.63}$ in $g$--, $r$--, and $H$--band respectively. With size measurements in three bands spanning the quasar rest frame ultraviolet to optical, we can place constraints on the scaling of accretion disk size with wavelength, $r\proptoλ^{1/β}$. In a joint analysis of both systems we find a slope shallower than that predicted by thin disk theory, $β= 0.35^{+0.16}_{-0.08}$, consistent with other constraints from multi-epoch microlensing studies.

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Gravitational Lens System PS J0147+4630 (Andromeda's Parachute): Main Lensing Galaxy and Optical Variability of the Quasar Images

Because follow-up observations of quadruple gravitational lens systems are of extraordinary importance for astrophysics and cosmology, we present single-epoch optical spectra and $r$--band light curves of PS J0147+4630. This recently discovered system mainly consists of four images ABCD of a background quasar around a foreground galaxy G that acts as a gravitational lens. First, we use long--slit spectroscopic data in the Gemini Observatory Archive and a multi-component fitting to accurately resolve the spectra of A, D, and G. The spectral profile of G resembles that of an early-type galaxy at a redshift of 0.678 $\pm$ 0.001, which is about 20\% higher than the previous estimate. Additionally, the stellar velocity dispersion is measured to $\sim$5\% precision. Second, our early $r$-band monitoring with the Liverpool Telescope leads to accurate light curves of the four quasar images. Adopting time delays predicted by the lens model, the new lens redshift, and a standard cosmology, we report the detection of microlensing variations in C and D as large as $\sim$0.1 mag on timescales of a few hundred days. We also estimate an actual delay between A and B of a few days (B is leading), which demonstrates the big potential of optical monitoring campaigns of PS J0147+4630.

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Gravitationally Lensed Quasar SDSS J1442+4055: Redshifts of Lensing Galaxies, Time Delay, Microlensing Variability, and Intervening Metal System at z ~ 2

We present an $r$--band photometric monitoring of the two images A and B of the gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J1442+4055 using the Liverpool Telescope (LT). From the LT light curves between 2015 December and 2018 August, we derive at once a time delay of 25.0 $\pm$ 1.5 days (1$σ$ confidence interval; A is leading) and microlensing magnification gradients below 10$^{-4}$ mag day$^{-1}$. The delay interval is not expected to be affected by an appreciable microlensing--induced bias, so it can be used to estimate cosmological parameters. This paper also focuses on new Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and LT spectroscopic observations of the lens system. We determine the redshift of two bright galaxies around the doubly imaged quasar using LT spectroscopy, while GTC data lead to low--noise individual spectra of A, B, and the main lensing galaxy G1. The G1 spectral shape is accurately matched to an early--type galaxy template at $z$ = 0.284, and it has potential for further relevant studies. Additionally, the quasar spectra show absorption by metal--rich gas at $z \sim$ 2. This dusty absorber is responsible for an extinction bump at a rest--frame wavelength of 2209 $\pm$ 2 Å, which has strengths of $\sim$ 0.47 and 0.76 mag $μ$m$^{-1}$ for A and B, respectively. In such intervening system, the dust--to--gas ratio, gas--phase metallicity indicator [Zn/H], and dust depletion level [Fe/Zn] are relatively high.

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New database for a sample of optically bright lensed quasars in the northern hemisphere

In the framework of the Gravitational LENses and DArk MAtter (GLENDAMA) project, we present a database of nine gravitationally lensed quasars (GLQs) that have two or four images brighter than $r$ = 20 mag and are located in the northern hemisphere. This new database consists of a rich variety of follow-up observations included in the GLENDAMA global archive, which is publicly available online and contains 6557 processed astronomical frames of the nine lens systems over the period 1999$-$2016. In addition to the GLQs, our archive also incorporates binary quasars, accretion-dominated radio-loud quasars, and other objects, where about 50% of the non-GLQs were observed as part of a campaign to identify GLQ candidates. Most observations of GLQs correspond to an ongoing long-term macro-programme with 2$-$10 m telescopes at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, and these data provide information on the distribution of dark matter at all scales. We outline some previous results from the database, and we additionally obtain new results for several GLQs that update the potential of the tool for astrophysical studies.

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Doubly imaged quasar SDSS J1515+1511: time delay and lensing galaxies

We analyse new optical observations of the gravitational lens system SDSS J1515+1511. These include a 2.6-year photometric monitoring with the Liverpool Telescope (LT) in the $r$ band, as well as a spectroscopic follow-up with the LT and the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). Our $r$-band LT light curves cover a quiescent microlensing period of the doubly imaged quasar at $z_{\rm s}$ = 2.049, which permits us to robustly estimate the time delay between the two images A and B: 211 $\pm$ 5 days (1$σ$ confidence interval; A is leading). Unfortunately, the main lensing galaxy (G1) is so faint and close to the bright quasar that it is not feasible to accurately extract its spectrum through the GTC data. However, assuming the putative redshift $z_{\rm G1}$ = 0.742, the GTC and LT spectra of the distant quasar are used to discuss the macrolens magnification, and the extinction and microlensing effects in G1. The new constraints on the time delay and macrolens magnification ratio essentially do not change previous findings on the mass scale of G1 and external shear, while the redshift of the lensing mass is found to be consistent with the assumed value of $z_{\rm G1}$. This is a clear evidence that G1 is indeed located at $z_{\rm G1}$ = 0.742. From the GTC data we also obtain the redshift of two additional objects (the secondary galaxy G2 and a new absorption system) and discuss their possible role in the lens scenario.

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Gravitational lens system SDSS J1339+1310: microlensing factory and time delay

We spectroscopically re-observed the gravitational lens system SDSS J1339+1310 using OSIRIS on the GTC. We also monitored the $r$-band variability of the two quasar images (A and B) with the LT over 143 epochs in the period 2009$-$2016. These new data in both the wavelength and time domains have confirmed that the system is an unusual microlensing factory. The C$\scriptsize{\rm{IV}}$ emission line is remarkably microlensed, since the microlensing magnification of B relative to that for A, $μ_{\rm{BA}}$, reaches a value of 1.4 ($\sim$ 0.4 mag) for its core. Moreover, the B image shows a red wing enhancement of C$\scriptsize{\rm{IV}}$ flux (relative to A), and $μ_{\rm{BA}}$ = 2 (0.75 mag) for the C$\scriptsize{\rm{IV}}$ broad-line emission. Regarding the nuclear continuum, we find a chromatic behaviour of $μ_{\rm{BA}}$, which roughly varies from $\sim$ 5 (1.75 mag) at 7000 Å to $\sim$ 6 (1.95 mag) at 4000 Å. We also detect significant microlensing variability in the $r$ band, and this includes a number of microlensing events on timescales of 50$-$100 d. Fortunately, the presence of an intrinsic 0.7 mag dip in the light curves of A and B, permitted us to measure the time delay between both quasar images. This delay is $Δt_{\rm{AB}}$ = 47$^{+5}_{-6}$ d (1$σ$ confidence interval; A is leading), in good agreement with predictions of lens models.

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Discovery of the optically bright, wide separation double quasar SDSS J1442+4055

Optically bright, wide separation double (gravitationally lensed) quasars can be easily monitored, leading to light curves of great importance in determining the Hubble constant and other cosmological parameters, as well as the structure of active nuclei and halos of galaxies. Searching for new double quasars in the SDSS-III database, we discovered SDSS J1442+4055. This consists of two bright images (18-19 magnitudes in the r band) of the same distant quasar at redshift z = 2.575. The two quasar images are separated by about 2.1 arcsec, show significant parallel flux variations and can be monitored from late 2015. We also found other two double quasar candidates, SDSS J1617+3827 (z = 2.079) and SDSS J1642+3200 (z = 2.264), displaying evidence for the presence of a lensing object and parallel flux variations, but requiring further spectroscopic observations to be confirmed as lensed quasars.

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The GLENDAMA Database

This is the first version (v1) of the Gravitational LENses and DArk MAtter (GLENDAMA) database accessible at http://grupos.unican.es/glendama/database The new database contains more than 6000 ready-to-use (processed) astronomical frames corresponding to 15 objects that fall into three classes: (1) lensed QSO (8 objects), (2) binary QSO (3 objects), and (3) accretion-dominated radio-loud QSO (4 objects). Data are also divided into two categories: freely available and available upon request. The second category includes observations related to our yet unpublished analyses. Although this v1 of the GLENDAMA archive incorporates an X-ray monitoring campaign for a lensed QSO in 2010, the rest of frames (imaging, polarimetry and spectroscopy) were taken with NUV, visible and NIR facilities over the period 1999-2014. The monitorings and follow-up observations of lensed QSOs are key tools for discussing the accretion flow in distant QSOs, the redshift and structure of intervening (lensing) galaxies, and the physical properties of the Universe as a whole.

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Crowded-field image simulator for WSO-UV/ISSIS: first functional version developed by the Glendama team

We are developing a web-based interactive software to simulate crowded-field imaging with the Imaging and Slitless Spectrograph Instrument for Surveys (ISSIS) on board the future World Space Observatory - Ultraviolet (WSO-UV). This new tool is aimed to prepare WSO-UV/ISSIS proposals to observe multicomponent targets and dense fields. For a given combination of UV channel, filters and exposure time, the user creates a set of point-like and extended sources (source model). This source model produces a final image, which takes into account a pixelated field of view, a realistic conversion between physical flux and counts per second, the convolution with the expected point spread function, a sky background and noise fluctuations. The current version of the simulator is available at the Gravitational LENses and DArk MAtter (Glendama) website, and it allows users to specify all relevant parameters of each point-like or extended source, drag-and-drop sources by using a mouse or a fingertip/stylus on a touchscreen, change the frame size or the brightness scale, etc.

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Spectra of faint sources in crowded fields with FRODOSpec on the Liverpool Robotic Telescope

We check the performance of the FRODOSpec integral-field spectrograph for observations of faint sources in crowded fields. Although the standard processing pipeline L2 yields too noisy fibre spectra, we present a new processing software (L2LENS) that gives rise to accurate spectra for the two images of the gravitationally lensed quasar Q0957+561. Among other things, this L2LENS reduction tool accounts for the presence of cosmic-ray events, scattered-light backgrounds, blended sources, and chromatic source displacements due to differential atmospheric refraction. Our non-standard reduction of Q0957+561 data shows the ability of FRODOSpec to provide useful information on a wide variety of targets, and thus, the big potential of integral-field spectrographs on current and future robotic telescopes.

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Spectroscopy of lensing galaxies in the GTC era

We are using OSIRIS at the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) to obtain spectra of faint galaxies close to multiply imaged quasars. We initially focused on the fields of HE 1413+117 (Cloverleaf quasar) and SDSS 1116+4118. In this contribution, we present long-slit spectroscopy of two galaxies in the southwest of the Cloverleaf, and show that one of them makes a negligible contribution to the external shear of the gravitational lens system. Spectra of the main lensing galaxy candidate in SDSS 1116+4118 are also analysed and discused. If gravitational lensing is causing the quasar image splitting, our spectra reveal that the main lens can not consist of only one dominant galaxy.

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