Abstract
We report here observations which confirm Paczynski's speculation1 that the previously known2 pair of 19th magnitude quasars 1146 + 111B,C are actually two images of a single object produced by a gravitational lens. The image splitting is 157 arc s, more than 20 times greater than any previously reported3, thus indicating an exceptionally massive lensing object. The data supporting the lens hypothesis are remarkably similar, high signal-to-noise, moderate-resolution spectra of the two components. Both spectra show strong Mg II λ2,798 emission at z = 1.012±0.001 with indistinguishable redshifts (Δv = 126±309 km s−1), widths (FWHM = 64±4 Å) and detailed profile shapes. Both spectra also show broad troughs at λ6,180 and several weaker continuum features. Neither object exhibits the [O II] λ3,727 line which is frequently strong in Mg II emission objects. If the foreground galaxy clustering apparent in a deep R band charge-coupled device (CCD) image proves insufficient to explain the large image splitting, other possibilities such as massive dark objects (for example, a ∼1015 M⊙ black hole) or a cosmic string may be indicated.
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Turner, E., Schneider, D., Burke, B. et al. An apparent gravitational lens with an image separation of 2.6 arc min. Nature 321, 142–144 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321142a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321142a0
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