Tufts/CfA/MIT Cosmology Seminar, at theCfA:

Tuesday, October 9, 2001
12:30 pm
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Pratt Conference Room (G04)

"Astrophysical and Cosmological Studies with Strong Gravitational Lensing"


Dave Rusin
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Abstract:

Multiple-image gravitational lens systems are powerful tools for addressing a wide range of astrophysical and cosmological issues, from galaxy mass distributions and evolution to the Hubble constant and vacuum energy density. First, I present results from the recently completed Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS), which searched for gravitational lensing among compact radio sources in the northern sky. CLASS has discovered ~20 lenses, and currently provides the largest uniformly-selected sample of gravitationally lensed quasars. Second, I review what we have learned from the investigation of individual lens systems and the CLASS lens sample as a whole. Finally, I outline the prospects for continued astrophysical and cosmological studies using strong gravitational lensing.

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