ALMA third image of lensed quasar PKS 1830-211

We report the detection of a third continuum source toward the strongly lensed quasar PKS 1830-211 in ALMA multi-frequency observations of high dynamic range and high angular resolution. This third source is point-like and located slightly to the north of the diagonal joining the two main lensed images, A and B, 0.3" away from image B. It has a flux density that is 140 times weaker than images A and B and a similar spectral index, compatible with synchrotron emission.

We conclude that this source is most likely the expected highly de-magnified third lensed image of the quasar. In addition, we detect, for the first time at millimeter wavelengths, weak and asymmetrical extensions departing from images A and B that correspond to the brightest regions of the Einstein ring seen at centimeter wavelengths. Their spectral index is steeper than that of compact images A, B, and C, which suggests that they arise from a different component of the quasar.