Further observational evidence that MG J0414+0534 is a gravitational mirage

Deep imaging of MG J0414+0534 with R and I filters reveals a faint, fuzzy and red object at the exact location expected for a lensing galaxy in the gravitational mirage hypothesis. Furthermore, the (extremely red and almost featureless) spectra of the 2 brightest components are very similar. These are strong indications that the system results from multiple gravitational imaging of a single source, but the nature of this source is not yet clear. It could be the nucleus of a low metallicity galaxy at a high redshift or a new type of object. Significant differences are observed between the flux ratios of the images at radio and optical wavelenghts. The most likely explanation for this effect is a differential amplification of the image pair A[SUB]1[/SUB]-A[SUB]2[/SUB] because of the large magnification gradient near a caustic.