SMA High Angular Resolution Imaging of the Lensed Quasar APM 08279+5255

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 671; no. 1; pp. L5 - L8
• Main Authors: Krips, M, Peck, A. B, Sakamoto, K, Petitpas, G. B, Wilner, D. J, Matsushita, S, Iono, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL IOP Publishing 10.12.2007; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Quasars; submillimeter; Gravitational lensing; Red shift; galaxies: high-redshift-galaxies: individual (APM 08279+5255)- gravitational lensing; Galaxies
• ISSN: 1538-4357; 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/524704

We present Submillimeter Array observations of the z = 3.01 gravitationaliy lensed broad absorption line quasar APM 08279+5255 which spatially resolve the 1.0 mm (200 mu m rest frame) dust continuum emission. At 0.4 double prime resolution, the emission is separated into two components, a stronger, extended one to the northeast (46 plus or minus 5 mJy) and a weaker, compact one to the southwest (15 plus or minus 2 mJy). We have carried out simulations of the gravitational lensing effect responsible for the two submillimeter components in order to constrain the intrinsic size of the submillimeter continuum emission. Using an elliptical lens potential, the best-fit lensing model yields an intrinsic (projected) diameter of similar to 80 pc, which is not as compact as the optical/near-infrared (NIR) emission and agrees with previous size estimates of the gas and dust emission in APM 08279+5255. Based on our estimate, we favor a scenario in which the 200 mu m (rest frame) emission originates from a warm dust component (T sub(d) = 150 220 K) that is mainly heated by the AGN rather than by a starburst. The flux is boosted by a factor of similar to 90 in our model, consistent with recent estimates for APM 08279+5255.