B2114+022: a distant radio source gravitationally lensed by a starburst galaxy

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2001

Authors

Augusto, P (Author) Other; Browne, IWA (Author) Other; Wilkinson, PN (Author) Other; Jackson, NJ (Author) Other; Fassnacht, CD (Author) Other; Muxlow, TWB (Author) Other; Hjorth, J (Author) Other; Jaunsen, AO (Author) Other; Koopmans, LV (Author) Other; Patnaik, AR (Author) Other; Taylor, GB (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Vol. 326

Pages: 1007-1014

ISSN: 0035-8711

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 27 Citations

Scopus - 25 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-T8K

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04764.x

Abstract (EN): We have discovered a radio source (B2114+022) with a unique structure during the course of the JVAS gravitational lens survey. VLA, MERLIN, VLBA and MERLIN+EVN radio maps reveal four compact components, in a configuration unlike that of any known lens system, or, for that matter, any of the similar to 15 000 radio sources in the JVAS and CLASS surveys. Three of the components are within 0.3 arcsec of each other while the fourth is separated from the group by 2.4 arcsec. The widest separation pair of components have similar radio structures and spectra. The other pair also have similar properties. This latter pair have spectra which peak at similar to5 GHz. Their surface brightnesses are much lower than expected for synchrotron self-absorbed components. Ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope optical observations show two galaxies (z = 0.3157 and 0.5883) separated by 1.25 arcsec. The lower redshift galaxy has a post-starburst spectrum and lies close to, but not coincident with, the compact group of three radio components. No optical or infrared emission is detected from any of the radio components down to I = 25 and H = 23. We argue that the most likely explanation of the B2114+022 system is that the post-starburst galaxy, assisted by the second galaxy, lenses a distant radio source producing the two wide-separation images. The other two radio components are then associated with the post-starburst galaxy. The combination of the angular sizes of these components, their radio spectra and their location with respect to their host galaxy still remains puzzling.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8