Limits on the Transverse Velocity of the Lensing Galaxy in Q2237+0305 from the Lack of Strong Microlensing Variability

Abstract

We present a method for the determination of upper limits on the transverse velocity of the lensing galaxy in the quadruple quasar system Q2237+0305, based on the lack of strong microlensing signatures in the quasar lightcurves. The limits we derive here are based on four months of high quality monitoring data, by comparing the low amplitudes of the lightcurves of the four components with extensive numerical simulations. We make use of the absence of strong variability of the components (especially components B and D) to infer that a "flat" time interval of such a length is only compatible with an effective transverse velocity of the lensing galaxy of v_bulk <=630 km/s for typical microlenses masses of M_microlens=0.1 M_solar (or v_bulk <=2160 km/s for M_microlens=1.0 M_solar) at the 90% confidence level. This method may be applicable in the future to other systems.

arXiv comment7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

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• The multiple quasar Q2237+0305 under a microlensing caustic
• The Rewards of Patience: An 822 Day Time Delay in the Gravitational Lens SDSS J1004+4112
• Extinction Curves of Lensing Galaxies out to z=1
• The Transverse Peculiar Velocity of the Q2237+0305 Lens Galaxy and the Mean Mass of Its Stars
• Integral field spectroscopy of four lensed quasars: analysis of their neighborhood and evidence for microlensing
• Statistics of Microlensing Caustic Crossings in Q~2237+0305: Peculiar Velocity of the Lens Galaxy and Accretion Disk Size
• Interpreting microlensing signal in QSO 2237+0305: Stars or planets?
• Resolving the Innermost Region of the Accretion Disk of the Lensed Quasar Q 2237+0305 through Gravitational Microlensing
• Is there a caustic crossing in the lensed quasar Q2237+0305 observational data record?
• Gravitational microlensing of AGN dusty tori
• Peculiar Transverse Velocities of Galaxies from Quasar Microlensing. Tentative Estimate of the Peculiar Velocity Dispersion at $z\sim 0.5$
• Liverpool-Maidanak monitoring of the Einstein Cross in 2006$-$2019. I. Light curves in the $gVrRI$ optical bands and microlensing signatures