S19A0094

We propose IRCS+AO188+LGS Kp-band imaging observations of 11 newly discovered candidates of quasars acting as gravitational lenses for background galaxies. Given the high purity demonstrated in the past, we expect that our observations will almost quadruple the number of such systems known to date, constituting a completely unique sample of objects, and opening up direct means of investigating the mass distribution of quasars. By spending one hour per system, including overheads, for a total of 2x0.5 = 1 night, we will test the lensing nature of these candidates as well as measure the luminosity of the quasar host galaxies. Most importantly, we will model the lensed background sources, therefore constraining the lensing mass and radial mass profile of the foreground quasar host galaxies. We will use the data to discriminate between different quasar halo models, and to study the evolution with redshift of the scaling laws between the supermassive black hole mass, the quasar host luminosity, and the quasar host central velocity dispersion at intermediate redshifts.


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