SDSS J094604.90+183541.8: A gravitationally lensed quasar at z = 4.8

Ian D. McGreer, Patrick B. Hall, Xiaohui Fan, Fuyan Bian, Naohisa Inada, Masamune Oguri, Michael A. Strauss, Donald P. Schneider, Kara Farnsworth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the discovery of a gravitationally lensed quasar identified serendipitously in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The object, SDSS J094604.90+183541.8, was initially targeted for spectroscopy as a luminous red galaxy, but the SDSS spectrum has the features of both a z = 0.388 galaxy and a z = 4.8 quasar. We have obtained additional imaging that resolves the system into two quasar images separated by 3'.'06 and a bright galaxy that is strongly blended with one of the quasar images. We confirm spectroscopically that the two quasar images represent a single-lensed source at z = 4.8 with a total magnification of 3.2, and we derive a model for the lensing galaxy. This is the highest redshift lensed quasar currently known. We examine the issues surrounding the selection of such an unusual object from existing data and briefly discuss implications for lensed quasar surveys.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)370-378
Number of pages9
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume140
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Gravitational lensing: Micro
  • Gravitational lensing: Strong
  • Quasars: Individual (SDSS J094604.90+183541.8)

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