Using the 6dF galaxy redshift survey to detect gravitationally-lensed quasars

Daniel J. Mortlock, Michael J. Drinkwater, PASA, 18 (2), in press.
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Contents Page: Volume 18, Number 2

Using the 6dF galaxy redshift survey to detect gravitationally-lensed quasars

Daniel J. Mortlock1,2
Michael J. Drinkwater3

1 Astrophysics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
mortlock@ast.cam.ac.uk

2 Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, United Kingdom

3 School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia
mdrinkwa@physics.unimelb.edu.au

Abstract:

It is possible to detect gravitationally-lensed quasars spectroscopically if the spectra obtained during galaxy surveys are searched for the presence of quasar emission lines. The up-coming 6 degree Field (6dF) redshift survey on the United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope will involve obtaining $\sim 10^5$ spectra of near-infrared selected galaxies to a magnitude limit of K = 13. Applying previously developed techniques implies that at least one lens should be discovered in the 6dF survey, but that as many as ten could be found if quasars typically have

$B_{\rm J} - K \simeq 8$. In this model there could be up to fifty lensed quasars in the sample, but most of them could only be detected by infrared spectroscopy.

Keywords: gravitational lensing - surveys - methods: data analysis





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