CfA Optical and Infrared Division Lunch Talks

December 16, 1999 Pratt Conference Room, Perkin G-04, 12:30 pm

CANCELLED!


A Failed Attempt to Measure the Time Delay of a Lensed Quasar

Prof. Paul Schechter, M.I.T.

A time delay of 9 months has been reported by Wisotzki et al. for the lensed quasar HE1104-1805. It has been monitored by the Warsaw group using the OGLE telescope on Las Campanas for two full seasons, with a few additional points in an earlier season and the current season. Though significant variablity is observed in both components, there are very significant differences in the structure functions of the two light curves, making it difficult to estimate a time delay. Several alternative interpretations of this result will be discussed.