Limits on the evolution of galaxies from the statistics of gravitational lenses

Kyu-Hyun Chae; Shude Mao

doi:10.1086/381247

paper

Limits on the evolution of galaxies from the statistics of gravitational lenses

arXiv:astro-ph/0311203 · doi:10.1086/381247

Abstract

We use gravitational lenses from the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS) to constrain the evolution of galaxies since redshift $z \sim 1$ in the current $\LCDM$ cosmology. This constraint is unique as it is based on a mass-selected lens sample of galaxies. Our method of statistical analysis is the same as in Chae (2003). We parametrise the early-type number density evolution in the form of $(1 + z)^{ν_{n}}$ and the velocity dispersion as $(1 + z)^{ν_{v}}$ . We find that $ν_{n} = - 0.1 1_{- 0.89}^{+ 0.82}$ ( $1 σ$ ) if we assume $ν_{v} = 0$ , implying that the number density of early-type galaxies is within 50% to 164% of the present-day value at redshift $z = 1$ . Allowing the velocity dispersion to evolve, we find that $ν_{v} = - 0. 4_{- 0.4}^{+ 0.5}$ ( $1 σ$ ), indicating that the velocity dispersion must be within 57% and 107% of the present-day value at $z = 1$ . These results are consistent with the early formation and passive evolution of early-type galaxies. More stringent limits from lensing can be obtained from future large lens surveys and by using very high-redshift quasars ($z \ga 5$) such as those found from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

10 pages (preprint format), 2 figures, ApJL in press (December 20th issue)

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The redshift distribution of gravitational lenses revisited: Constraints on galaxy mass evolution

Limits on the evolution of galaxies from the statistics of gravitational lenses

Abstract

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