A group of astronomers have discovered a dozen quasars that have been distorted by a natural cosmic “lens” and split into four similar images.
Quadruple imagery quasars are rare, and the first quadruple image was discovered in 1985 (Twitter / @ esascience)
A group of astronomers have discovered a dozen quasars that have been distorted by a natural cosmic “lens” and split into four similar images.
Quasars are extremely bright nuclei of distant galaxies fed by supermassive black holes.
This rare find increases the number of known quasars or quads by about 25% and may help determine the rate of expansion of the universe and solve other mysteries.
Quasars with quadrupling, such as those found by @ESAGaia, are unique tools to learn more about dark matter and the expansion rate of the Universe https://t.co/IVeDsQ7Fr7
Image Credit: R. Hurt (IPAC / Caltech) / The GraL Collaboration pic.twitter.com/ketC10OLGR
– ESA Sciences (@esascience) April 8, 2021
Quadruple imaging quasars are rare and the first quadruple imaging was discovered in 1985.
Over the past four decades, astronomers have found some fifty of these “quadrupled imaging quasars,” which occur when the gravity of a massive galaxy in front of a quasar divides its single image into four. science and technology (DST) said.
The study conducted by Gaia Gravitational Lenses Working Group (GraL) of astronomers, which included scientists from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, an institute of the DST, covering only one year and half, demonstrate the power of the machine – learn how to help astronomers in their search for these cosmic gems.
The study has been accepted for publication in “The Astrophysical Journal,” said DST.
“Quads are gold mines for all kinds of questions. They can help determine the rate of expansion of the universe and solve other mysteries, such as dark matter and the ‘central engines’ of quasars, ”said Daniel Stern, lead author of the new study and researcher at Jet Propulsion Laboratory USA.
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