Group items tagged

One of the results of the analysis of weak lensing in the COSMOS field was a three-dimensional mass map, described by Massey et al as "the scaffolding of the Universe." Many news outlets covered the COSMOS dark matter map story, but in The Independent the map was presented covering the whole of the front page. (E)

COSMOS was by no means the first time that dark matter mapping with gravitational lensing had attracted publicity. The year before, the lensing analysis of the Bullet Cluster was picked up as providing the "proof" of dark matter's existence. (E)

Gravitational lensing on the cluster scale is readily observed in almost all of the most massive systems, provided the image resolution and depth are high enough. "Blind" imaging surveys have also been carried out, most notably using SDSS data. Describes the candidate selection and confirmation of 16 new cluster-scale lenses. (A)

A popular book that describes how gravitational lensing can be used to answer fundamental questions like "What is the Universe made of?" (E,I)

Introduced a new method to analyze and interpret quasar microlensing light curves. In the process it gave a good description of the physical picture. (A)

LensTool has been used extensively throughout the literature; this paper provides a good introduction and an overview of its more recently added capabilities. (A)

In recent years, the citizen scientists of Galaxy Zoo have been carrying out their own search, rediscovering known lenses and finding interesting new candidates in the SDSS and HST image archives. They can be followed (and joined!) at the Galaxy Zoo forum. (E, I)

This paper discusses the impact on cosmological-parameter measurement from cosmic-shear surveys owing to the intrinsic alignments of galaxy shapes (prior to their being lensed). (A)

An exposition of the phenomenon and uses of quasar microlensing. (I)

An excellent entry point into cosmology, with plenty of very interesting and effective webpages, comments on scientific news and a java cosmological quantity calculator (I, A)

This paper uses a large Hubble Space Telescope survey to obtain galaxy-galaxy lensing measurements at higher redshifts than previously possible, and explores the evolution of dark halo properties. (A)