arXiv subjects

Prasenjit Saha

Publications and source records attributed to Prasenjit Saha.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Unveiling dark halos in lensing galaxies

We present a spatially resolved comparison of the stellar-mass and total-mass surface distributions of nine early-type galaxies. The galaxies are a subset of the Sloan Lens ACS survey (or SLACS; Bolton et al. 2006). The total-mass distributions are obtained by exploring pixelated mass models that reproduce the lensed images. The stellar-mass distributions are derived from population synthesis models fit to the photometry of the lensing galaxies. Uncertainties - mainly model degeneracies - are also computed. Stars can account for all the mass in the inner regions. A Salpeter IMF actually gives too much stellar mass in the inner regions and hence appears ruled out. Dark matter becomes significant by the half-light radius and becomes increasingly dominant at larger radii. The stellar and dark components are closely aligned, but the actual ellipticities are not correlated. Finally, we attempt to intuitively summarize the results by rendering the density, stellar-vs-dark ratio, and uncertainties as false-colour maps.

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arXiv2005

Stellar and total mass in early-type lensing galaxies

For 18 well-observed gravitationally lensed QSOs, we compare new non-parametric mass profiles for the lensing galaxies with stellar-population models derived from published HST photometry. The large volume of parameter space searched -- with respect to the possible star formation histories -- allows us to infer robust estimates and uncertainties for the stellar masses. The most interesting results are: (1) the transition from little or no dark matter in the inner regions (<r_e) to dark matter dominating on the ~5r_e scale (~20 kpc) is clearly seen in massive ellipticals; (2) Such a trend is not seen in lower-mass galaxies, so that the stellar content dominates the mass budget out to ~5r_e; (3) the radial gradient in the dark-matter fraction for these intermediate redshift galaxies agrees with published data on nearby galaxies. This result can help reconcile the discrepancies found in recent estimates of dark matter in elliptical galaxies using different techniques (e.g. Planetary nebulae versus X-ray). The observed trend suggests the stellar component in massive galaxies extends further out in terms of the dark matter scale radius.

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arXiv2004

Strong lensing constraints on the properties of cluster galaxies

A recently discovered quadruply-imaged QSO, SDSS J1004+4112 (Inada et al. 2003; Oguri et al. 2004) in the core of a $z=0.68$ galaxy cluster has an unprecedented image separation of ~13''. This lens gives us a unique opportunity to study the detailed mass distribution in the central regions of this cluster. We present free-form reconstructions of the lens using recently developed methods. The projected mass within 100 kpc is well-constrained as 5+/-1 x 10^{13} M_solar, consistent with previous simpler models. Unlike previous work, however, we are able to detect structures in the lens associated with cluster galaxies. We estimate the mass associated with these galaxies, and show that they contribute not more than about 10% of the total cluster mass within 100 kpc. Typical galaxy masses, combined with typical luminosities yield a rough estimate of their mass-to-light ratio, which is ~<10, implying that these galaxies consist mostly of stars, and possess little dark matter.

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arXiv2004

Models of the giant quadruple quasar SDSS J1004+4112

SDSS J1004+4112 is an unprecedented object. It looks much like several quadruple quasars lensed by individual galaxies, only it is ~10 times larger, and the lens is a cluster dominated by dark matter. We present free-form reconstructions of the lens using recently-developed methods. The projected cluster mass profile is consistent with being shallow, r^{-0.3...-0.5}, and can be fit with either an NFW or a flat-cored 3 dimensional mass distribution. However, we cannot rule out projected profiles as steep as r^{-1.3}. The projected mass within 100 kpc is well-constrained as 5+/-1 10^{13}M_sun, consistent with previous simpler models. Unlike previous work, however, we are able to detect structures in the lens associated with cluster galaxies. We estimate the mass associated with these galaxies, and show that they contribute not more than about 10% of the total cluster mass within 100 kpc. Typical galaxy masses, combined with typical luminosities yield a rough estimate of their mass-to-light ratio, which is in the single digits. Finally, we discuss implications for time-delay measurements in this system, and possibilities for a partial Einstein ring.

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arXiv2004

A portable modeler of lensed quasars

We introduce and implement two novel ideas for modeling lensed quasars. The first idea is to require different lenses to agree about H_0. This means that some models for one lens can be ruled out by data on a different lens. We explain using two worked examples. One example models 1115+080, 1608+656 (time-delay quads) and 1933+503 (a prospective time-delay system) all together, yielding time-delay predictions for the third lens and a 90%-confidence estimate of 1/H_0=14.6_{-1.7}^{+9.4} Gyr (H_0=67_{-26}^{+9} km/s/Mpc) assuming Omega_M=0.3, Omega_Lambda=0.7. The other example models the time-delay doubles 1520+530, 1600+434, 1830-211, and 2149-275, which gives 1/H_0=14.5_{-1.5}^{+3.3} Gyr (H_0=67_{-13}^{+8} km/s/Mpc). Our second idea is to write the whole modeling software as a highly interactive Java applet, which can be used both for coarse-grained results inside a browser and for fine-grained results on a workstation. Several obstacles come up in trying to implement a numerically-intensive method thus, but we overcome them.

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arXiv2003

Time-delay quasars: scales and orders of magnitudes

We can think of a lensed quasar as taking the Hubble time, shrinking it by \~10^{-11}, and then presenting the result to us as a time delay; the shrinking factor is of the order of fractional sky-area that the lens occupies. This cute fact is a straightforward consequence of lensing theory, and enables a simple rescaling of time delays. Observed time delays have a 40-fold range, but after rescaling the range reduces to 5-fold. The latter range depends on details of the lens and lensing configuration--for example, quads have systematically shorter rescaled time delays than doubles--and is as expected from a simple model. The hypothesis that observed time-delay lenses all come from a generalized-isothermal family can be ruled out. But there is no indication of drastically different populations either.

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arXiv2003

Is B1422+231 a Golden Lens?

B1422+231 is a quadruply-imaged QSO with an exceptionally large lensing contribution from group galaxies other than the main lensing galaxy. We detect diffuse X-rays from the galaxy group in archival Chandra observations; the inferred temperature is consistent with the published velocity dispersion. We then explore the range of possible mass maps that would be consistent with the observed image positions, radio fluxes, and ellipticities. Under plausible but not very restrictive assumptions about the lensing galaxy, predicted time delays involving the faint fourth image are fairly well constrained around 7/h days.

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arXiv2003

Qualitative Theory for Lensed QSOs

We show that some characteristics of multiply-imaged QSO systems are very model-independent and can be deduced accurately by simply scrutinizing the relative positions of images and galaxy-lens center. These include the time-ordering of the images, the orientation of the lens potential, and the rough morphology of any ring. Other features can differ considerably between specific models; H_0 is an example. Surprisingly, properties inherited from a circularly symmetric lens system are model-dependent, whereas features that arise from the breaking of circular symmetry are model-independent. We first develop these results from some abstract geometrical ideas, then illustrate them for some well-known systems (the quads Q2237+030, H1413+117, HST14113+5211, PG1115+080, MG0414+0534, B1608+656, B1422+231, and RXJ0911+0551, and the ten-image system B1933+507), and finally remark on two systems (B1359+154 and PMN J0134-0931) where the lens properties are more complex. We also introduce a Java applet which produces simple lens systems, and helps further illustrate the concepts.

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arXiv2001

Beware the Non-uniqueness of Einstein Rings

We explain how an approximation to the rings formed by the host galaxies in lensed QSOs can be inferred from the QSO data alone. A simple ring image can be made from any lens model by a simple piece of computer graphics: just plot a contour map of the arrival-time surface with closely-spaced contours. We go on to explain that rings should be (a) sensitive to time-delay ratios between different pairs of images, but (b) very insensitive to H_0. We illustrate this for the well-known quads 1115+080 and 1608+656.

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arXiv2001

A Non-Parametric Estimate of the Mass of the Central Black Hole in the Galaxy

We estimate the mass of the central black hole in our Galaxy from stellar kinematical data published by Ghez et al. (1998) and Genzel et al. (2000). For this we develop a method, related to Merritt (1993), for non-parametrically reconstructing the mass profile and the stellar distribution function in the central region of the Galaxy from discrete kinematic data, including velocity errors. Models are searched using the Metropolis algorithm. We assume that the mass distribution is spherical and the stellar velocity distribution is isotropic, and devise a test of this assumption. From proper motions we obtain an enclosed mass of $2.0\pm{0.7}\times10^6{\rm M}_{\odot}$ within the inner $0.0044\rm pc$, from radial velocities we obtain a mass of $2.2^{+1.6}_{-1.0}\times10^6{\rm M}_{\odot}$ within 0.046pc and from three-dimensional velocities we obtain $1.8^{+0.4}_{-0.3}\times10^6{\rm M}_{\odot}$ within 0.046pc.

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arXiv2000

Lensing Degeneracies Revisited

This paper shows that the mass-sheet degeneracy and other degeneracies in lensing have simple geometrical interpretations: they are mostly rescalings of the arrival-time surface. Different degeneracies appear in Local Group lensing and in cosmological lensing, because in the former the absolute magnification is measured but the image structure is not resolved, whereas in the latter the reverse usually applies. The most dangerous of these is a combination we may call the `mass-disk degeneracy' in multiply-imaging galaxy lenses, which may lead to large systematic uncertainties in estimates of cosmological parameters from these systems.

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arXiv2000

Dynamics of the Galactic Bulge using Planetary Nebulae

Evidence for a bar at the center of the Milky Way triggered a renewed enthusiasm for dynamical modelling of the Galactic bar-bulge. Our goal is to compare the kinematics of a sample of tracers, planetary nebulae, widely distributed over the bulge with the corresponding kinematics for a range of models of the inner Galaxy. Three of these models are N-body barred systems arising from the instabilities of a stellar disk (Sellwood, Fux and Kalnajs), and one is a Schwarzschild system constructed to represent the 3D distribution of the COBE/DIRBE near-IR light and then evolved as an N-body system for a few dynamical times (Zhao). For the comparison of our data with the models, we use a new technique developed by Saha (1998). The procedure finds the parameters of each model, i.e. the solar galactocentric distance R_o in model units, the orientation angle phi, the velocity scale (in km/s per model unit), and the solar tangential velocity which best fit the data.

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arXiv1999

Pixelated Lenses and H_0 from Time-delay QSOs

Observed time delays between images of a lensed QSO lead to the determination of the Hubble constant by Refsdal's method, provided the mass distribution in the lensing galaxy is reasonably well known. Since the two or four QSO images usually observed are woefully inadequate by themselves to provide a unique reconstruction of the galaxy mass, most previous reconstructions have been limited to simple parameterized models, which may lead to large systematic errors in the derived H_0 by failing to consider enough possibilities for the mass distribution of the lens. We use non-parametric modeling of galaxy lenses to better explore physically plausible but not overly constrained galaxy mass maps, all of which reproduce the lensing observables exactly, and derive the corresponding distribution of H_0's. Blind tests - where one of us simulated galaxy lenses, lensing observables, and a value for H_0, and the other applied our modeling technique to estimate H_0 indicate that our procedure is reliable. For four simulated lensed QSOs the distribution of inferred H_0 have an uncertainty of \simeq 10% at 90% confidence. Application to published observations of the two best constrained time-delay lenses, PG1115+080 and B1608+656, yields H_0=61 +/- 11 km/s/Mpc at 68% confidence and 61 +/- 18 km/s/Mpc at 90% confidence.

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arXiv1999

Pixellated Lenses and Estimates of H_0 from Time-delay Quasars

The largest source of uncertainty in the determination of H_0 from a multiply-imaged QSO system is the unknown mass distribution in the lensing galaxy. Parametric models severely restrict the shape of the galaxy thereby underestimating errors and biasing the best estimate of H_0. We present a method that explores the whole of the model space allowed by the image observables and a few general properties of galaxies. We describe blind test of the method and then apply it to PG1115+080 and B1608+656 which yield H_0 between 45 and 80 km/s/Mpc at 90% confidence level, with the best estimate of 60 km/s/Mpc.

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arXiv1999

Cluster Reconstruction from Combined Strong and Weak Lensing

The lensing information provided by multiple images, arclets, and statistical distortions can all be formulated as linear constraints on the arrival-time surface, and hence on the mass distribution. This reduces cluster lens reconstruction from combined strong and weak lensing to a standard type of inversion problem. Moreover, the mass sheet degeneracy is broken if there are sources at different redshifts.

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arXiv1999

On density and velocity fields and beta from the IRAS PSCz survey

We present a version of the Fourier Bessel method first introduced by Fisher et al (1994) and Zaroubi et al (1994) with two extensions: (a) we amend the formalism to allow a generic galaxy weight which can be constant rather than the more conventional overweighting of galaxies at high distances, and (b) we correct for the masked zones by extrapolation of Fourier Bessel modes rather than by cloning from the galaxy distribution in neighbouring regions. We test the procedure extensively on N-body simulations and find that it gives generally unbiased results but that the reconstructed velocities tend to be overpredicted in high-density regions. Applying the formalism to the PSZz redshift catalog, we find that beta = 0.7 +/- 0.5 from a comparison of the reconstructed Local Group velocity to the CMB dipole. From an anisotropy test of the velocity field, we find that beta = 1 CDM models models normalized to the current cluster abundance can be excluded with 90% confidence. The density and velocity fields reconstructed agree with the fields found by Branchini et al (1998) in most points. We find a back-infall into the Great Attractor region (Hydra-Centaurus region) but tests suggest that this may be an artifact. We identify all the major clusters in our density field and confirm the existence of some previously identified possible ones.

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arXiv1998

Non-parametric Reconstruction of Abell 2218 from Combined Weak and Strong Lensing

We apply a new non-parametric technique to reconstruct, with uncertainties, the projected mass distribution of the inner region of Abell 2218, using combined strong and weak lensing constraints from multiple-image systems and arclets with known redshifts. The reconstructed mass map broadly resembles previous, less detailed, parametric models, but when examined in detail shows several sub-structures, not necessarily associated with light but strongly required by the lensing data. In particular, the highest mass peak is offset by about 30 kpc/h50 from the main light peak, and projected mass-to-light in the directions of different cluster galaxies varies by at least a factor of 10. On comparing with mass estimates from models of the X-ray emitting gas, we find that the X-ray models under-predict the enclosed mass profile by, at least a factor of 2.5; the discrepancy gets worse if we assume that mass traces light to the extent allowed by the lensing constraints.

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arXiv1998

On Variational Dynamics in Redshift Space

Peebles (1989) showed that in the gravitational instability picture galaxy orbits can be traced back in time from a knowledge of their current positions, via a variational principle. We modify this variational principle so that galaxy redshifts can be input instead of distances, thereby recovering the distances. As a test problem, we apply the new method to a Local Group model. We infer M = 4 to 8 x 10^{12} M_sun depending on cosmology, implying that the dynamics of the outlying Local Group dwarves are consistent with the timing argument. Some algorithmic issues need to be addressed before the method can be applied to recover nonlinear evolution from large redshift surveys, but there are no more difficulties in principle.

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