Point source models for the gravitational lens B1608+656: Indeterminacy in the prediction of the Hubble constant

Abstract

We apply elliptical isothermal mass models to reproduce the point source properties, i.e. image positions, flux density ratios and time delay ratios, of the quadruple lens B1608+656. A wide set of suitable solutions is found, showing that models that only fit the properties of point sources are under-constrained and can lead to a large uncertainty in the prediction of Ho. We present two examples of models predicting Ho=100 km/(s Mpc) (chi^2=4) and Ho=69 km/(s Mpc) (chi^2=24).

2 pages, 1 figure. To appear in "Gravitational Lensing: Recent Progress and Future Goals", Boston University, MA, July 1999, eds. T.G. Brainerd and C.S. Kochanek