Astrophysics. Multiple images of a highly magnified supernova formed by an early-type cluster galaxy lens.
Science
; 347(6226): 1123-6, 2015 Mar 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25745167
ABSTRACT
In 1964, Refsdal hypothesized that a supernova whose light traversed multiple paths around a strong gravitational lens could be used to measure the rate of cosmic expansion. We report the discovery of such a system. In Hubble Space Telescope imaging, we have found four images of a single supernova forming an Einstein cross configuration around a redshift z = 0.54 elliptical galaxy in the MACS J1149.6+2223 cluster. The cluster's gravitational potential also creates multiple images of the z = 1.49 spiral supernova host galaxy, and a future appearance of the supernova elsewhere in the cluster field is expected. The magnifications and staggered arrivals of the supernova images probe the cosmic expansion rate, as well as the distribution of matter in the galaxy and cluster lenses.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Science
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos