Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

 
 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  June 11, 2009 04:06 AM

How can scientist tell the distance of a quasar viewed through a Einstein ring?

How do scientist know the position of the Einstein ring and deduce the distance of the quasar?
Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

 
June 11, 2009 11:36 AM
The formula for the radius of an Einstein ring is

(x gravitational constant x mass of lensing object / speed of light squared x between observer and lensed object / (distance between observer and lensing object x distance between lensing object and lensed object))

where the distances are "angular diameter distances" measured in terms of the object's actual size divided by its angular diameter. Given the radius of the Einstein ring and the mass of the lensing object, the *relative* distances of the quasar and its lens can be calculated, but the actual distance to one is needed to know the distance to the other.

Usually, though, the distances to the lens and the background object are determined by measuring their redshifts.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_ring
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_diameter_distance

Asker's Rating:


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip badaspie for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
 
June 11, 2009 02:03 PM
Knowing the size of the lense and the speed tell the scientist that duration of the lensing event and the spherical shape whereby they can deduce the shape of the lense.

The equation does not reveal how the scientist know the distance from observation and the lensing material. I'm supposing they look at the degree of light bending, figure out the mass of the dark matter and stellar matter, and they decided on a distance. Reverse engineering based on a distance, they can determine, the actual distance of the lensed quasar being viewed, and deduce that it is 6 billion light years away.

Report
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • buddawiggi
    buddawiggi
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    28178 Points
    M$811.66 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt with a Brown Tip
    5021 Points
    M$207.59 Earned
  • annelisle
    annelisle
    Purple Belt
    3536 Points
    M$108.52 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1675)
music(477)
iphone(470)
google(369)
food(331)
online(301)
beer(282)
money(271)
movies(267)
apple(253)
aotd(235)
health(223)
video(210)
free(209)
dog(206)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.