Polarization microlensing in the quadruply imaged broad absorption line quasar H1413+117 [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1510.06047


We have obtained spectropolarimetric observations of the four images of the gravitationally lensed broad absorption line quasar H1413+117. The polarization of the microlensed image D is significantly different both in the continuum and in the broad lines from the polarization of image A which is essentially unaffected by microlensing. The observations suggest that the continuum is scattered off two regions spatially separated and producing roughly perpendicular polarizations. These results are compatible with a model in which the microlensed polarized continuum comes from a compact region located in the equatorial plane close to the accretion disk and the non-microlensed continuum from an extended region located along the polar axis.

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D. Hutsemekers, D. Sluse, L. Braibant, et. al.
Thu, 22 Oct 15
60/64

Comments: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics