With an inferred bolometric luminosity of 5 \times 10 ^ { 15 } { { L _ { \odot } } } , the recently identified z=3.87 , broad absorption line quasar APM 08279+5255 is apparently the most luminous object currently known .
As half of its prodigious emission occurs in the infrared , APM 08279+5255 also represents the most extreme example of an Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy .
Here , we present new submillimeter observations of this phenomenal object ; while indicating that a vast quantity of dust is present , these data prove to be incompatible with current models of emission mechanisms and reprocessing in ultraluminous systems .
The influence of gravitational lensing upon these models is considered and we find that while the emission from the central continuum emitting region may be significantly enhanced , lensing induced magnification can not easily reconcile the models with observations .
We conclude that further modeling , including the effects of any differential magnification is required to explain the observed emission from APM 08279+5255 .