Understand
In 2016, the first strongly lensed Type Ia supernova, iPTF16geu at redshift $z=0.409$ with four resolved images arranged symmetrically around the lens galaxy at $z=0.2163$, was discovered.
- Here, refined observations of iPTF16geu, including the time delay between images, are used to decrease uncertainties in the lens model, including the the slope of the projected surface density of the lens galaxy, $\Sigma\propto r^{1-\eta}$, and to constrain the universal expansion rate $H_0$.
- Imaging with HST provides an upper limit on the slope $\eta$, in slight tension with the steeper density profiles indicated by imaging with Keck after iPTF16geu had faded, potentially due to dust extinction not corrected for in host galaxy imaging.
- Since smaller $\eta$ implies larger magnifications, we take advantage of the standard candle nature of Type Ia supernovae constraining the image magnifications, to obtain an independent constraint of the slope.