Open AccessPossible arcmin‐separation gravitational lensed quasi‐stellar objects in the 2dF QSO survey
Author(s) -
Miller L.,
Lopes A. M.,
Smith R. J.,
Croom S. M.,
Boyle B. J.,
Shanks T.,
Outram P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.07303.x
Subject(s) - qsos , physics , astrophysics , gravitational lens , redshift , galaxy , astronomy , spectral line , young stellar object , redshift survey , weak gravitational lensing , quasar , star formation
We report the possible discovery of multiple gravitationally lensed images of quasi‐stellar objects (QSOs) with angular separations on arcmin scales. The QSOs were selected from the completed 2dF QSO Survey as having redshifts and optical colours which are statistically consistent. In this paper we present higher‐quality optical spectra of the candidates and discuss the likelihood that they genuinely are systems lensed by massive clusters of galaxies. From a comparison of the spectra it appears that up to six pairs of QSOs may be lensed multiple images, although the true number may be less than that and further observations should be undertaken to amass more evidence and to detect the lensing clusters. Two of the candidates may be associated with low‐redshift clusters of galaxies.