The Nature and Size of the Optical Continuum Source in QSO 2237+0305

Shalyapin, V. N.; Goicoechea, L. J.; Alcalde, D.; Mediavilla, E.; Muñoz, J. A.; Gil-Merino, R.
Referencia bibliográfica

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 579, Issue 1, pp. 127-135.

Fecha de publicación:
11
2002
Número de autores
6
Número de autores del IAC
3
Número de citas
51
Número de citas referidas
42
Descripción
From the peak of a gravitational microlensing high-magnification event in the A component of QSO 2237+0305, which was accurately monitored by the Gravitational Lenses International Time Project collaboration, we derived new information on the nature and size of the optical V-band and R-band sources in the distant quasar. If the microlensing peak is caused by a microcaustic crossing, we first obtain that the standard accretion disk is a scenario more reliable/feasible than other typical axially symmetric models. Moreover, the standard scenario fits both the V-band and R-band observations with reduced χ2 values very close to 1. Taking into account all these results, a standard accretion disk around a supermassive black hole is a good candidate for the optical continuum main source in QSO 2237+0305. Second, using the standard source model and a robust upper limit on the transverse galactic velocity, we infer that 90% of the V-band and R-band luminosities are emitted from a region with a radial size less than 1.2×10-2 pc (=3.7×1016 cm, at a 2 σ confidence level).