Size is everything : universal features of quasar microlensing with extended sources
Name
56737901-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.29 MB
Format
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Checksum (MD5)
31f0503180a09476029be2900cd0f9b6
Author(s)
Mortonson, Michael J. (Michael John), 1983-
Advisor(s)
Paul L. Schechter.
Alternative Title
Universal features of quasar microlensing with extended sources
Date Issued
2004
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
We examine the effect that the shape of the source brightness profile has on the magnitude fluctuations of images in lens systems due to microlensing. We do this by convolving a variety of accretion disk models (including Gaussian disks, uniform disks, "cones," and a Shakura-Sunyaev thermal model) with two magnification patterns in the source plane, one with convergence [kappa] = 0.4 and shear [gamma] = 0 (positive parity), and the other with [kappa]=[gamma]= 0.6 (negative parity). By looking at magnification histograms of the convolutions and using chi-squared tests to determine the number of observations that would be necessary to distinguish histograms associated with different disk models, we find that, for circular disk models, the microlensing fluctuations are relatively insensitive to all properties of the models except the half-light radius of the disk.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-72).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Terms of Use
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