GMVA17B-299

Search for an intermediate-mass gravitational lens towards PKS1413+135

Abstract

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.

Investigators

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