Detection of the rapid variability in the Q2237+0305 quasar

Abstract

Rapid intrinsic variability has been detected for the first time in the Einstein Cross QSO 2237+0305, a radio quiet flat spectrum quasar at z=1.7 that is quadruply lensed by a foreground galaxy at z=0.04. The observed short-period event at the time scale of several days and with amplitudes of about 0.1-0.2 mag can be traced in the light curves of the 2004 observing season for all macroimages and in all the three filters (V, R and I). The accuracy of the existing estimates of the time delays in Q2237+0305 is insufficient to either confirm or disprove the estimations of time delays based on the lens models of this system, especially taking into account the presence of strong microlensing events. The detected short-period variations in the Q2237+0305 light curves have made possible to obtain new estimates of the time delays, which are more accurate as compared to the earlier determinations by other authors.