Gravitational Lenses

Gravitational Lenses in Cosmology

Using the geometry of the gravitational lens and assuming a quasar (source) is intrinsically variable (e.g. 0957+561) the time delay between the two images seen by the observer can be estimated. From the time delay the Hubble constant can be determined.

Determining the Hubble Constant Using Gravitational Lenses

Angular Separation Between Light Rays

Gravitational Lensing By Cosmic Strings

The metric around a straight string is conical which implies the existence of two paths on either side of an intervening string from a source to an observer, who will see two images. A straight string does not magnify or distort the images. If the source is resolvable and lies partially inside the wedge beyond the string that is lensed the observer will see only part of it, with a sharp cutoff by the string. Cosmic strings could be searched for by looking for these truncated images. If the image is not resolved there will be a difference in magnitude and possibly colour, if for example, just the arms of a spiral lie in the wedge.

Cosmology Page