The Hubble constant from gravitational lens CLASS B0218+357 using the Advanced Camera for Surveys

MNRAS 357 (2005) 124

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08618.x (http) or 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08618.x (doi)
ADS bibcode 2005MNRAS.357..124Y
astro-ph/0405115

T. York [1], N. Jackson [1], I.W.A. Browne [1], O. Wucknitz [2], J.E. Skelton [1,3]

  1. University of Manchester, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL, UK
  2. Universität Potsdam, Institut für Physik, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
  3. Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, EH9 3HJ, UK

Abstract

We present deep optical observations of the gravitational lens system CLASS B0218+357 from which we derive an estimate for the Hubble Constant (H0). Extensive radio observations using the VLA, MERLIN, the VLBA and VLBI have reduced the degeneracies between H0 and the mass model parameters in this lens to one involving only the position of the radio-quiet lensing galaxy with respect to the lensed images. B0218+357 has an image separation of only 334 mas, so optical observations have, up until now, been unable to resolve the lens galaxy from the bright lensed images. Using the new Advanced Camera for Surveys, installed on the Hubble Space Telescope in 2002, we have obtained deep optical images of the lens system and surrounding field. These observations have allowed us to determine the separation between the lens galaxy centre and the brightest image, and so estimate H0.

We find an optical galaxy position - and hence an H0 value that varies depending on our approach to the spiral arms in B0218+357. If the most prominent spiral arms are left unmasked, we find H0 = 70+-5 km/s/Mpc (95% confidence). If the spiral arms are masked out we find H0 = 61+-7 km/s/Mpc (95% confidence).

Key words: gravitational lensing, distance scale



MNRAS 357 (2005) 124 (link to online journal)
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08618.x (http) or 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08618.x (doi)
ADS bibcode 2005MNRAS.357..124Y (link to ADS entry)
astro-ph/0405115 (link to e-print archive)



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