Astronomers Discover Rare Five-Image Einstein Cross, Illuminating Dark Matter's Influence

An international consortium of astronomers, including researchers from Rutgers University,

has identified

The initial observation of this five-image pattern was made by French astronomer Pierre Cox using the Northern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) in the French Alps. Subsequent analysis and confirmation were carried out with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. This event is a prime example of gravitational lensing, where the gravity of foreground galaxies bends and magnifies the light from a more distant object, creating multiple images.

Leading the research, Cox, along with Rutgers astrophysicist Charles Keeton and graduate student Lana Eid, developed sophisticated computer models to interpret the findings. Their simulations indicated that a substantial dark matter halo surrounding the foreground galaxies was necessary to explain the presence of the central fifth image. Dark matter's existence is inferred through its gravitational effects, making gravitational lensing a key method for its study. It is estimated that dark matter constitutes approximately

85%

The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, highlights the importance of global scientific collaboration and the use of advanced astronomical facilities. Instruments such as ALMA, the Very Large Array (VLA), and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope were crucial to the study. Rutgers University's contribution underscores the role of U.S. scientific infrastructure in cosmic research. The team anticipates that future observations of HerS-3 may reveal additional characteristics, such as outflowing gas, which would further refine understanding of dark matter's properties and its role in cosmic evolution.