First Lensed Quasar Systems from the VST-ATLAS Survey: One Quad, Two Doubles, and Two Pairs of Lensless Twins

Abstract

We have analyzed images from the VST-ATLAS survey to identify candidate gravitationally lensed quasar systems in a sample of WISE sources with W1 - W2 ≥ 0.7.. Results from follow-up spectroscopy with the Baade 6.5 m telescope are presented for eight systems. One of them is a quadruply lensed quasar, and two are doubly lensed systems. Two are projected superpositions of two quasars at different redshifts. In one system, two quasars, although at the same redshift, have very different emission line profiles and constitute a physical binary. In two systems, the component spectra are consistent with the lensing hypothesis, after allowing for microlensing. However, as no lensing galaxy is detected in these two systems, we classify them as lensless twins. More extensive observations are needed to establish whether they are in fact lensed quasars or physical binaries.