Applications of gravitational lensing
Abstract
I derive the basic principles of gravitational lensing, and proceed to describe several astrophysical applications. First, invariants in gravitational lensing magnification are derived using techniques of multidimensional residue calculus, and illustrated with example calculations. Then I discuss how these invariant quantities may be useful for measuring the properties of lenses. Next, I discuss the use of astrometric microlensing for studying extrasolar planets. Finally, the use of lensing for the study of substructure in dark matter halos is presented, along with ramifications for the small-scale power spectrum of matter fluctuations. The strongest bounds to date are placed on the mass of the dark matter particle, as well as bounds on the neutrino mass and slope of the primordial power spectrum.
- Publication:
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Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002PhDT.........4D
- Keywords:
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- Physics: Astronomy and Astrophysics