Hubble Space Telescope Observations of a Spectacular New Strong-lensing Galaxy Cluster - MACSJ1149.5+2223 at z=0.544
Graham P. Smith, Harald Ebeling, Marceau Limousin, Jean-Paul Kneib, A. M. Swinbank, Cheng-Jiun Ma, Mathilde Jauzac, Johan Richard, Eric Jullo, David J. Sand, Al… 展开作者
Graham P. Smith, Harald Ebeling, Marceau Limousin, Jean-Paul Kneib, A. M. Swinbank, Cheng-Jiun Ma, Mathilde Jauzac, Johan Richard, Eric Jullo, David J. Sand, Alastair C. Edge, Ian Smail
We present Advanced Camera for Surveys observations of MACSJ1149.5+2223, an X-ray luminous galaxy cluster at z=0.544 discovered by the Massive Cluster Survey. The data reveal at least seven multiply-imaged galaxies, three of which we have confirmed spectroscopically. One of these is a spectacular face-on spiral galaxy at z=1.491, the four images of which are gravitationally magnified by ~8<mu<~23. We identify this as an L* (M_B=-20.7), disk-dominated (B/T<~0.5) galaxy, forming stars at ~6Msol/yr. We use a robust sample of multiply-imaged galaxies to constrain a parameterized model of the cluster mass distribution. In addition to the main cluster dark matter halo and the bright cluster galaxies, our best model includes three galaxy-group-sized halos. The relative probability of this model is P(N_halo=4)/P(N_halo<4)>=10^12 where N_halo is the number of cluster/group-scale halos. In terms of sheer number of merging cluster/group-scale components, this is the most complex strong-lensing cluster core studied to date. The total cluster mass and fraction of that mass associated with substructures within R<=500kpc, are measured to be M_tot=(6.7+/-0.4)x10^14Msol and f_sub=0.25+/-0.12 respectively. Our model also rules out recent claims of a flat density profile at >~7sigma confidence, thus highlighting the critical importance of spectroscopic redshifts of multiply-imaged galaxies when modeling strong lensing clusters. Overall our results attest to the efficiency of X-ray selection in finding the most powerful cluster lenses, including complicated merging systems.
Time delay in galaxy gravitational lensing systems has been used to determine the value of Hubble constant. As in other dynamical phenomena at the scale of galaxy, dark matter is often invoked in gravitational lensing to account for the "missing mass" (the apparent discrepancy between the dynamical mass and the luminous mass). Alternatively, modified gravity can be used to explain the discrepancy. In this paper we adopt the Tensor-Vector-Scalar gravity (TeVeS), a relativistic version of MOdified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), to study gravitational lensing phenomena and derive the formulae needed …
We investigate the origin of $Λ$CDM parameter constraints in weak lensing, with a focus on the Hubble constant. We explain why current cosmic shear data are sensitive to the parameter combination $S_8 \propto σ_8 Ω_m^{0.5}$, improving upon previous studies through use of the halo model. Motivated by the ongoing discrepancy in measurements of the Hubble constant from high and low redshift, we explain why cosmic shear provides almost no constraint on $H_0$ by showing how the lensing angular power spectrum depends on physical length scales in the dark matter distribution. We derive parameter cons…
Gravitational wave sources are a promising cosmological standard candle because their intrinsic luminosities are determined by fundamental physics (and are insensitive to dust extinction). They are, however, affected by weak lensing magnification due to the gravitational lensing from structures along the line of sight. This lensing is a source of uncertainty in the distance determination, even in the limit of perfect standard candle measurements. It is commonly believed that the uncertainty in the distance to an ensemble of gravitational wave sources is limited by the standard deviation of the…
The presence of mass inhomogeneities along the line of sight of propagation of light fromdistant objects can induce deflection in the flight path of the photon. This phenomenon is called as gravitational lensing. Lensing can have both distortion (shear) and isotropic magnification effects on the source. We studied the effect of lensing magnification on supernova (SN) Ia in this thesis. Presence of lensing would introduce a source of contamination to the brightness distribution of the source (SN Ia in our case). Thus it also enables one to compute the lensing effect indirectly from the Hubble d…
Strong gravitational lensing by galaxy clusters is a fundamental tool to study dark matter and constrain the geometry of the Universe. Recently, the Hubble Space Telescope Frontier Fields programme has allowed a significant improvement of mass and magnification measurements but lensing models still have a residual root mean square between 0.2 arcsec and few arcsec- onds, not yet completely understood. Systematic errors have to be better understood and treated in order to use strong lensing clusters as reliable cosmological probes. We have analysed two simulated Hubble-Frontier-Fields-like clus…
Measurements of the Hubble constant, $H_0$, from the cosmic distance ladder are currently in tension with the value inferred from Planck observations of the CMB and other high redshift datasets if a flat $Λ$CDM cosmological model is assumed. One of the few promising theoretical resolutions of this tension is to invoke new physics that changes the sound horizon scale in the early universe; this can bring CMB and BAO constraints on $H_0$ into better agreement with local measurements. In this paper, we discuss how a measurement of the Hubble constant can be made from the CMB without using informa…
We present free-form gravitational lensing models derived with the WSLAP+ code for the six $\textit{Hubble Frontier Fields}$ clusters using the latest data available from the $\textit{Frontier Fields Lensing Models v.4}$ collaboration. We present magnifications maps in the lens plane and caustic maps in the source plane. From these maps, we derive the probability of magnification using two different, but related, methods. We confirm MACS 0717 as the cluster with the most complex structure, and having the largest lensing efficiency and Einstein radius. When comparing these results with the ones…
The light travel time differences in strong gravitational lensing systems allows an independent determination of the Hubble constant. This method has been successfully applied to several lens systems. The formally most precise measurements are, however, in tension with the recent determination of $H_0$ from the Planck satellite for a spatially flat six-parameters $ΛCDM$ cosmology. We reconsider the uncertainties of the method, concerning the mass profile of the lens galaxies, and show that the formal precision relies on the assumption that the mass profile is a perfect power law. Simple analyt…
We apply a tension metric $Q_\textrm{UDM}$, the update difference in mean parameters, to understand the source of the difference in the measured Hubble constant $H_0$ inferred with cosmic microwave background lensing measurements from the Planck satellite ($H_0=67.9^{+1.1}_{-1.3}\, \mathrm{km/s/Mpc}$) and from the South Pole Telescope ($H_0=72.0^{+2.1}_{-2.5}\, \mathrm{km/s/Mpc}$) when both are combined with baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements with priors on the baryon density (BBN). $Q_\textrm{UDM}$ isolates the relevant parameter directions for tension or concordance where the two…
Strong gravitational lensing effect is a powerful tool to probe cosmological models and gravity theories. Recently, the time-delay cosmography from strong lensing and the stellar kinematics of the deflector, which encode the Hubble constant and the post-Newtonian parameter via two distance ratios reflecting the lensing mass and dynamical mass respectively, have been proposed to investigate these two parameters simultaneously. Among strong lensing systems with different sources, strongly lensed fast radio bursts (FRBs) have been proposed as precision probes of the universe since the time delay …
The cosmological information encapsulated within a weak lensing signal can be accessed via the power spectrum of the so called convergence. We use the Fisher information matrix formalism with the convergence power spectrum as the observable to predict how future weak lensing surveys will constrain the expansion rate and the growth function as functions of redshift without using any specific model to parameterize these two quantities. To do this, we divide redshift space into bins and linearly interpolate the functions with the centers of the redshift bins as sampling points, using a fiducial s…
We present a determination of the Hubble constant from the joint, free-form analysis of 8 strongly, quadruply lensing systems. In the concordance cosmology, we find $H_0 = 71.8^{+3.9}_{-3.3}\,\mathrm{km}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$ with a precision of $4.97\%$. This is in agreement with the latest measurements from Supernovae Type Ia and Planck observations of the cosmic microwave background. Our precision is lower compared to these and other recent time-delay cosmography determinations, because our modelling strategies reflect the systematic uncertainties of lensing degeneracies. We …
In this work, we propose a new strategy for the pixel-lensing observation of M87 in the Virgo cluster using the {\it Hubble Space Telescope} (HST). In contrast to the previous observational strategy by Baltz et al., we show that a few days intensive observation with the duration of $\sim 90 $min in each HST orbit will increase the observational efficiency of the high-magnification events by more than one order of magnitude. We perform a Monte-Carlo simulation for this strategy and we show that the number of high magnification microlensing events will increase at the rate of 4.2 event per day w…
We investigate the influence of matter along the line of sight and in the strong lens vicinity on the properties of quad image configurations and on the measurements of the Hubble constant (H0). We use simulations of light propagation in a nonuniform universe model with the distribution of matter in space based on the data from Millennium Simulation. For a given strong lens and haloes in its environment we model the matter distribution along the line of sight many times, using different combinations of precomputed deflection maps representing subsequent layers of matter on the path of rays. We…
We present a strong lensing analysis of the galaxy cluster Abell 370 (z=0.375) based on the recent multicolor ACS images obtained as part of the Early Release Observation (ERO) that followed the Hubble Service Mission #4. Back in 1987, the giant gravitational arc (z=0.725) in Abell 370 was one of the first pieces of evidence that massive clusters are dense enough to act as strong gravitational lenses. The new observations reveal in detail its disklike morphology, and we show that it can be interpreted as a complex five-image configuration, with a total magnification factor of 32+/-4. Moreover,…
We constrain the scalar field dark energy model with an inverse power-law potential, i.e., $V(ϕ)\propto ϕ^{-α}$ ($α>0$), from a set of recent cosmological observations by compiling an updated sample of Hubble parameter measurements including 30 independent data points. Our results show that the constraining power of the updated sample of $H(z)$ data with the HST prior on $H_0$ is stronger than those of the SCP Union2 and Union2.1 compilations. A recent sample of strong gravitational lensing systems is also adopted to confine the model even though the results are not significant. A joint analys…
The Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) are six clusters of galaxies, all showing indications of recent mergers, which have recently been observed for lensed images. As such they are the natural laboratories to study the merging history of galaxy clusters. In this work, we explore the 2D power spectrum of the mass distribution $P_{\rm M}(k)$ as a measure of substructure. We compare $P_{\rm M}(k)$ of these clusters (obtained using strong gravitational lensing) to that of $Λ$CDM simulated clusters of similar mass. To compute lensing $P_{\rm M}(k)$, we produced free-form lensing mass reconstructions of …
We consider the dispersion on the supernova distance-redshift relation due to peculiar velocities and gravitational lensing, and the sensitivity of these effects to the amplitude of the matter power spectrum. We use the MeMo lensing likelihood developed by Quartin, Marra & Amendola (2014), which accounts for the characteristic non-Gaussian distribution caused by lensing magnification with measurements of the first four central moments of the distribution of magnitudes. We build on the MeMo likelihood by including the effects of peculiar velocities directly into the model for the moments. In or…
LensExplorer is an IDL GUI code that can be used to visualize the lensing deflection field derived in the Hubble Frontier Fields clusters. The code can be used for both, research and educational purposes as it offers and intuitive and user friendly way to explore the solutions in the different clusters. LensExplorer can be used to predict the magnifications at different redshifts of background sources and for a given location. We present in this document a quick guide to get started with LensExplorer. The code and lens models for the cluster A2744 and MACSJ0416.1-2403 are publicly available fr…
Strong gravitational lensing has been a powerful probe of cosmological models and gravity. To date, constraints in either domain have been obtained separately. We propose a new methodology through which the cosmological model, specifically the Hubble constant, and post-Newtonian parameter can be simultaneously constrained. Using the time-delay cosmography from strong lensing combined with the stellar kinematics of the deflector lens, we demonstrate the Hubble constant and post-Newtonian parameter are incorporated in two distance ratios which reflect the lensing mass and dynamical mass, respect…
Extending over three Hubble Space Telescope (HST) cycles, the Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) initiative constitutes the largest commitment ever of HST time to the exploration of the distant Universe via gravitational lensing by massive galaxy clusters. We here present models of the mass distribution in the six HFF cluster lenses, derived from a joint strong- and weak-lensing analysis anchored by a total of 88 multiple-image systems identified in existing HST data. The resulting maps of the projected mass distribution and of the gravitational magnification effectively calibrate the HFF clusters a…
The observed discrepancy of the Hubble parameter measurements in the local universe with the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data may indicate a new physics. It is vital to test the alternative models that reconcile the Hubble tension with other cosmological observations in this direction. The CMB lensing is a crucial observation that relates the early universe perturbations to the matter's late-time distribution. In this work, we study the prediction of the ü$Λ$CDM as a solution for $H_0$ tension for CMB lensing and the low- and high-$\ell$'s temperature (TT) power spectrum internal inconsi…
We examine a well resolved 8 arcsec lensed image that is symmetrically bent in the middle by an edge-on lenticular galaxy, in the Hubble Frontier Field (HFF) data of MACSJ0416.1-20403. The lengthy image is generated primarily by the large tangential shear of the cluster with a local secondary deflection by the member galaxy out to a limiting radius of about 18 kpc. The lensing lenticular galaxy is also well resolved and evidently lies nearly edge-on in projection. This fortuitous combination of a long arc intersecting an edge on galaxy provides us with an opportunity to place relatively strong…
We use supernovae measurements, calibrated by the local determination of the Hubble constant $H_0$ by SH0ES, to interpolate the distance-redshift relation using Gaussian process regression. We then predict, independent of the cosmological model, the distances that are measured with strong lensing time delays. We find excellent agreement between these predictions and the measurements. The agreement holds when we consider only the redshift dependence of the distance-redshift relation, independent of the value of $H_0$. Our results disfavor the possibility that lens mass modeling contributes a 10…
Context. The precise determination of the present-day expansion rate of the Universe, expressed through the Hubble constant $H_0$, is one of the most pressing challenges in modern cosmology. Assuming flat $Λ$CDM, $H_0$ inference at high redshift using cosmic-microwave-background data from Planck disagrees at the 4.4$σ$ level with measurements based on the local distance ladder made up of parallaxes, Cepheids and Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), often referred to as "Hubble tension". Independent, cosmological-model-insensitive ways to infer $H_0$ are of critical importance. Aims. We apply an invers…
The observed brightness of Type Ia supernovae is affected by gravitational lensing caused by the mass distribution along the line of sight, which introduces an additional dispersion into the Hubble diagram. We look for evidence of lensing in the SuperNova Legacy Survey 3-year data set. We investigate the correlation between the residuals from the Hubble diagram and the gravitational magnification based on a modeling of the mass distribution of foreground galaxies. A deep photometric catalog, photometric redshifts, and well established mass luminosity relations are used. We find evidence of a l…
The galaxy cluster RX J0603.3+4214 at z=0.225 is one of the rarest clusters boasting an extremely large (~2 Mpc) radio-relic. Because of the remarkable morphology of the relic, the cluster is nicknamed "Toothbrush Cluster". Although the cluster's underlying mass distribution is one of the critical pieces of information needed to reconstruct the merger scenario responsible for the puzzling radio-relic morphology, its proximity to the Galactic plane b~10 deg has imposed significant observational challenges. We present a high-resolution weak-lensing study of the cluster with Subaru/Suprime Cam an…
We present a weak-lensing analysis of the z=1.4 galaxy cluster XMMU J2235.3-2557, based on deep Advanced Camera for Surveys images. Despite the observational challenge set by the high redshift of the lens, we detect a substantial lensing signal at the >~ 8 sigma level. This clear detection is enabled in part by the high mass of the cluster, which is verified by our both parametric and non-parametric estimation of the cluster mass. Assuming that the cluster follows a Navarro-Frenk-White mass profile, we estimate that the projected mass of the cluster within r=1 Mpc is (8.5+-1.7) x 10^14 solar m…
The impact of strong lensing on Hubble constant measurements with gravitational-wave dark sirens
University of Glasgow（格拉斯哥大学）；Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute（韩国天文与空间科学研究所）；Université Catholique de Louvain（天主教鲁汶大学）；Royal Observatory of Belgium（比利时皇家天文台）
We examine the inner mass distribution of the relaxed galaxy cluster Abell 383 in deep 16-band HST/ACS+WFC3 imaging taken as part of the CLASH multi-cycle treasury program. Our program is designed to study the dark matter distribution in 25 massive clusters, and balances depth with a wide wavelength coverage to better identify lensed systems and generate precise photometric redshifts. This information together with the predictive strength of our strong-lensing analysis method identifies 13 new multiply-lensed images and candidates, so that a total of 27 multiple-images of 9 systems are used to…
Although the Hubble constant $H_0$ and spatial curvature $Ω_{K}$ have been measured with very high precision, they still suffer from some tensions. In this paper, we propose an improved method to combine the observations of ultra-compact structure in radio quasars and strong gravitational lensing with quasars acting as background sources to determine $H_0$ and $Ω_{K}$ simultaneously. By applying the distance sum rule to the time-delay measurements of 7 strong lensing systems and 120 intermediate-luminosity quasars calibrated as standard rulers, we obtain stringent constraints on the Hubble con…
Attempts to constrain the Hubble constant using the strong gravitational lens system Q0957+561 are limited by systematic uncertainties in the mass model, since the time delay is known very precisely. One important systematic effect is the mass sheet degeneracy, which arises because strong lens modeling cannot constrain the presence or absence of a uniform mass sheet $κ$, which rescales $H_0$ by the factor $(1-κ)$. In this paper we present new constraints on the mass sheet derived from a weak-lensing analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope imaging of a 6 arcmin square region surrounding the lens…
The second most significant detection of the Planck Sunyaev Zel'dovich survey, PLCK~G287.0+32.9 ($z=0.385$) boasts two similarly bright radio relics and a radio halo. One radio relic is located $\sim 400$ kpc northwest of the X-ray peak and the other $\sim 2.8$ Mpc to the southeast. This large difference suggests that a complex merging scenario is required. A key missing puzzle for the merging scenario reconstruction is the underlying dark matter distribution in high resolution. We present a joint Subaru Telescope and {\it Hubble Space Telescope} weak-lensing analysis of the cluster. Our analy…
(Abridged) We present a HST weak-lensing study of the merging galaxy cluster "El Gordo" (ACT-CL J0102-4915) at z=0.87 discovered by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope collaboration as the strongest SZ decrement in its ~1000 sq. deg survey. Our weak-lensing analysis confirms that ACT-CL J0102-4915 is indeed an extreme system consisting of two massive (~10^15 Msun each) subclusters with a projected separation of ~0.7 Mpc. This binary mass structure revealed by our lensing study is consistent with the cluster galaxy distribution and the dynamical study carried out with 89 spectroscopic members. We e…
Early Dark Energy (EDE) contributing a fraction $f_{\rm EDE}(z_c)\sim 10 \%$ of the energy density of the universe around $z_c\simeq 3500$ and diluting as or faster than radiation afterwards, can provide a resolution to the Hubble tension, the $\sim 5σ$ discrepancy between the $H_0$ value derived from early- and late-universe observations within $Λ$CDM. However, it has been pointed out that Large-Scale Structure (LSS) data, which are in $\sim3σ$ tension with $Λ$CDM and EDE cosmologies, might alter these conclusions. We reassess the viability of the EDE against a host of high- and low-redshift …
Weak lensing of bright standard sirens: prospects for $σ_8$
Università degli Studi di Padova（帕多瓦大学）；Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova（意大利国家核物理研究所帕多瓦分部）；Keemilise ja bioloogilise füüsika instituut（化学与生物物理研究所）
We present results from a comprehensive lensing analysis in HST data, of the complete CLASH cluster sample. We identify new multiple-images previously undiscovered allowing improved or first constraints on the cluster inner mass distributions and profiles. We combine these strong-lensing constraints with weak-lensing shape measurements within the HST FOV to jointly constrain the mass distributions. The analysis is performed in two different common parameterizations (one adopts light-traces-mass for both galaxies and dark matter while the other adopts an analytical, elliptical NFW form for the …
We derive a free-form mass distribution for the unrelaxed cluster A370 (z=0.375), using the latest Hubble Frontier Fields images and GLASS spectroscopy. Starting from a reliable set of 10 multiply lensed systems we produce a free-form lens model that identifies ~ 80 multiple-images. Good consistency is found between models using independent subsamples of these lensed systems, with detailed agreement for the well resolved arcs. The mass distribution has two very similar concentrations centred on the two prominent Brightest Cluster Galaxies (or BCGs), with mass profiles that are accurately const…
Using the power of gravitational lensing magnification by massive galaxy clusters, the Hubble Frontier Fields provide deep views of six patches of the high redshift Universe. The combination of deep Hubble imaging and exceptional lensing strength has revealed the greatest numbers of multiply-imaged galaxies available to constrain models of cluster mass distributions. However, even with $\mathcal{O}(100)$ images per cluster, the uncertainties associated with the reconstructions are not negligible. The goal of this paper is to show the diversity of model magnification predictions. We examine 7 a…
We present the latest version of the ray-tracing simulation code Skylens, which can be used to develop image simulations that reproduce strong lensing observations by any mass distribution with a high level of realism. Improvements of the code with respect to previous versions include the implementation of the multi-lens plane formalism, the use of denoised source galaxies from the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, and the simulation of substructures in lensed arcs and images, based on a morphological analysis of bright nearby galaxies. Skylens can simulate observations with virtually any telescope. …
Testing General Relativity on Galactic Scales via DESI-BAO and Strong Lensing: Circumventing Assumptions on the Hubble Constant, Sound Horizon, and Dark Energy
School of Physics and Optoelectronic, Yangtze University（长江大学物理与光电工程学院）
We present a Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 weak-lensing study of A520, where a previous analysis of ground-based data suggested the presence of a dark mass concentration. We map the complex mass structure in much greater detail leveraging more than a factor of three increase in the number density of source galaxies available for lensing analysis. The "dark core" that is coincident with the X-ray gas peak, but not with any stellar luminosity peak is now detected with more than 10 sigma significance. The ~1.5 Mpc filamentary structure elongated in the NE-SW direction is al…
The core mass of galaxy clusters is both an important anchor of the radial mass distribution profile and probe of structure formation. With thousands of strong lensing galaxy clusters being discovered by current and upcoming surveys, timely, efficient, and accurate core mass estimates are needed. We assess the results of two efficient methods to estimate the core mass of strong lensing clusters: the mass enclosed by the Einstein radius ($M_{corr}(<θ_E)$ where $θ_{\rm E}$ is approximated from arc positions; Remolina González et al. 2020), and single-halo lens model ($M_{\rm{SHM}}(<\rm{e}θ_{\rm{…
Galaxy clusters can act as gravitational lenses to magnify the universe behind them, allowing us to see deep into the early universe. The Hubble Space Telescope Frontier Fields program (Lotz et al. 2017) uses six galaxy clusters imaged by Hubble to discover and study galaxies at z ~ 5-10. Seven independent teams developed lens models and derived magnifications for each galaxy cluster, based on positional and redshift constraints from the best available data at the time. In this work we evaluate ten models for MACSJ0416.1-2403, which were made public in 2015, by contrasting them with new spectr…
We present the supernova (SN) sample and Type-Ia SN (SN Ia) rates from the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH). Using the Advanced Camera for Surveys and the Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we have imaged 25 galaxy-cluster fields and parallel fields of non-cluster galaxies. We report a sample of 27 SNe discovered in the parallel fields. Of these SNe, ~13 are classified as SN Ia candidates, including four SN Ia candidates at redshifts z > 1.2. We measure volumetric SN Ia rates to redshift 1.8 and add the first upper limit on the SN Ia rate in the ra…
Multiply imaged time-variable sources can be used to measure absolute distances as a function of redshifts and thus determine cosmological parameters, chiefly the Hubble Constant H$_0$. In the two decades up to 2020, through a number of observational and conceptual breakthroughs, this so-called time-delay cosmography has reached a precision sufficient to be an important independent voice in the current ``Hubble tension'' debate between early- and late-universe determinations of H$_0$. The 2020s promise to deliver major advances in time-delay cosmography, owing to the large number of lenses to …
Abell 2744, a massive Hubble Frontier Fields merging galaxy cluster with many multiple images in the core has been the subject of many lens inversions using different methods. While most existing studies compare various inversion methods, we focus on a comparison of reconstructions that use different input lensing data. Since the quantity and quality of lensing data is constantly improving, it makes sense to ask if the estimated uncertainties are robust against changes in the data. We address this question using free-form Grale, which takes only image information as input, and nothing pertaini…
Strong gravitational lensing forms multiple, time delayed images of cosmological sources, with the "focal length" of the lens serving as a cosmological distance probe. Robust estimation of the time delay distance can tightly constrain the Hubble constant as well as the matter density and dark energy. Current and next generation surveys will find hundreds to thousands of lensed systems but accurate time delay estimation from noisy, gappy lightcurves is potentially a limiting systematic. Using a large sample of blinded lightcurves from the Strong Lens Time Delay Challenge we develop and demonstr…
We conduct precise strong lensing mass modeling of four ${\it Hubble}$ Frontier Fields (HFF) clusters, Abell$~$2744, MACS$~$J0416.1$-$2403, MACS$~$J0717.5$+$3745, and MACS$~$J1149.6$+$2223, for which HFF imaging observations are completed. We construct a refined sample of more than 100 multiple images for each cluster by taking advantage of the full depth HFF images, and conduct mass modeling using the ${\small \rm GLAFIC}$ software, which assumes simply parametrized mass distributions. Our mass modeling also exploits a magnification constraint from the lensed Type Ia supernova HFF14Tom for Ab…
We study the image formation near point singularities (swallowtail and umbilics) in the simulated strongly lensed images of Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) by the Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) clusters. In this work, we only consider nearly half of the brightest (a total of 5271) sources in the HUDF region. For every HFF cluster, we constructed 11 realizations of strongly lensed HUDF with an arbitrary translation of the cluster centre within the central region of HUDF and an arbitrary rotation. In each of these realizations, we visually identify the characteristic/exotic image formation correspo…
Ordinary baryonic particles (such as protons and neutrons) account for only one-sixth of the total matter in the Universe. The remainder is a mysterious "dark matter" component, which does not interact via the electromagnetic force and thus neither emits nor reflects light. However, evidence is mounting for its gravitational influence. The past few years have seen particular progress in observations of weak gravitational lensing, the slight deflection of light from distant galaxies due to the curvature of space around foreground mass. Recent surveys from the Hubble Space Telescope have provide…
