We present an extensive spectroscopic follow-up campaign of 29 strong lensing (SL) selected galaxy clusters discovered primarily in the Second Red-Sequence Cluster Survey (RCS-2). Our spectroscopic analysis yields redshifts for 52 gravitational arcs present in the core of our galaxy clusters, which correspond to 35 distinct background sources that are clearly distorted by the gravitational potential of these clusters. These lensed galaxies span a wide redshift range of 0.8<=z<=2.9, with a median redshift of z_s_=1.8+/-0.1. We also measure reliable redshifts for 1004 cluster members, allowing us to obtain robust velocity dispersion measurements for 23 of these clusters, which we then use to determine their dynamical masses by using a simulation-based {sigma}DM-M_200_ scaling relation. The redshift and mass ranges covered by our SL sample are 0.22<=z<=1.01 and 5x10^13^M_200_/h_70_^-1^M_{sun}_~20 show signs of dynamical substructure. However, the velocity data of only one system is inconsistent with a uni-modal distribution. We therefore assume that the substructures are only marginal and not of comparable size to the clusters themselves. Consequently, our velocity dispersion and mass estimates can be used as priors for SL mass reconstruction studies and also represent an important step toward a better understanding of the properties of the SL galaxy cluster population.

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/834/210/table3 (The VLT/Magellan spectroscopic redshifts of the cluster members)

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/834/210/clusters (Summary of dynamical properties and VLT/Magellan spectroscopic observations of the strong lensing-selected galaxy clusters (tables 1 and 4))

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/834/210/table2 (Spectroscopic redshift of individual lensed galaxies)