We have recently discovered a rare new form of variability in active galactic nuclei (AGN)--- symmetric achromatic variation (SAV). We have shown that SAV is most likely caused by gravitational lensing by intermediate mass objects (10^3-10^6 solar masses). This proposal aims to confirm the lensing hypothesis by searching for image splitting at a 100-microarcsecond scale. If successful, the proposed observations will open up a novel avenue to constrain cosmological matter-clumping on intermediate mass scales.
Name | Institution |
---|---|
GBT Operator | Green Bank Observatory |
Anthony Readhead | California Institute of Technology |
Timothy Pearson | California Institute of Technology |
HARISH VEDANTHAM * | Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy |
Walter Max-Moerbeck | Chile, Universidad de |
Preeti Kharb | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research |
Talvikki Hovatta | Turku, University of |
* indicates the PI