On the Origin of Flux Ratio Anomaly in Quadruple Lens Systems

Understand

We explore the origin of flux ratio anomaly in quadruple lens systems.

• Using a semi-analytic method based on $N$-body simulations, we estimate the effect of possible magnification perturbation caused by subhaloes with a mass scale of <$\sim 10^9\,h^{-1} \textrm{M}_\odot$ in lensing galaxy haloes.
• Taking into account astrometric shifts, assuming that the primary lens is described by a singular isothermal ellipsoid, the expected change to the flux ratios per a multiply lensed image is just a few percent and the mean of the expected convergence perturbation at the effective Einstein radius of the lensing galaxy halo is $ 0.003$, corresponding to the mean of the ratio of a projected dark matter mass fraction in subhaloes at the effective Einstein radius $0.006$.
• In contrast, the expected change to the flux ratio caused by line-of-sight structures is typically $\sim 10$ percent and the mean of the convergence perturbation is $0.008$, corresponding to $0.017$.