We report the detection of discrete , lensed radio emission from the multiply imaged , z = 2.516 submillimetre selected galaxy , SMM J16359+6612 .
All three images are detected in deep WSRT 1.4 GHz and VLA 8.2 GHz observations , and the radio positions are coincident with previous sub-mm SCUBA observations of this system .
This is the widest separation lens system to be detected in the radio so far , and the first time that multiply imaged lensed radio emission has been detected from a star forming galaxy — all previous multiply-lensed radio systems being associated with radio-loud AGN .
Taking into account the total magnification of \sim 45 , the WSRT 1.4 GHz observations suggest a star formation rate of \sim 500 M _ { \odot } yr ^ { -1 } .
The source has a steep radio spectrum \alpha \sim - 0.7 and an intrinsic flux density of just 3 microJy at 8.2 GHz .
Three other SCUBA sources in the field are also detected by the WSRT , including SMMJ16359+66118 , a singly imaged ( and magnified ) arclet at z=1.034 .
Higher resolution radio observations of SMMJ16359+6612 ( and other highly magnified star forming galaxies ) provide a unique opportunity to study the general properties and radio morphology of intrinsically faint , distant and obscured star forming galaxies .
They can also help to constrain the technical specification of next generation radio telescopes , such as the Square Kilometre Array .