The evolution of late-type galaxies from CASSOWARY lensing systems

Abstract

We explore the properties of lensing galaxies and lensed faint sources at redshifts between 1.5 and 3.0. Our sample consists of nine, carefully selected strongly lensed galaxies discovered by the CASSOWARY (Cambridge And Sloan Survey OfWide ARcs in the skY) survey in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data. We find that, despite some limitations of the original SDSS data, the homogeneous sample of lensing systems can provide a useful insight into lens and source properties. We also explore the limitations of using low-resolution data to model and analyse galaxy-galaxy lensing. We derive the relative alignment of mass and light in fitted lens profiles. The range of magnification extends above 5; hence, we are able to analyse potentially small and low-mass galaxies at high redshifts. We confirm the likely evolution of the size-luminosity relation for blue star-forming galaxies as a function of redshift. © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.