Gravitational Lensing

This book presents the basics of gravitational lensing, accessible to students and researchers with a wide range of backgrounds.

Scott Dodelson (Author)

9781107129764, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 June 2017

234 pages, 87 b/w illus. 14 colour illus.
25.3 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.65 kg

'Based on the university lectures given by the author, this book provides an overview of gravitational lensing, which has emerged as a powerful tool in astronomy with numerous applications, ranging from the quest for extrasolar planets to the study of the cosmic mass distribution. … Written with a pedagogical approach, this book is meant as a textbook for one-semester undergraduate or graduate courses. But it can also be used for independent study by researchers interested in entering this fascinating and fast-evolving field.' CERN Courier

Gravitational lensing is a consequence of general relativity, where the gravitational force due to a massive object bends the paths of light originating from distant objects lying behind it. Using very little general relativity and no higher level mathematics, this text presents the basics of gravitational lensing, focusing on the equations needed to understand the phenomena. It then applies them to a diverse set of topics, including multiply imaged objects, time delays, extrasolar planets, microlensing, cluster masses, galaxy shape measurements, cosmic shear, and lensing of the cosmic microwave background. This approach allows undergraduate students and others to get quickly up to speed on the basics and the important issues. The text will be especially relevant as large surveys such as LSST and Euclid begin to dominate the astronomical landscape. Designed for a one semester course, it is accessible to anyone with two years of undergraduate physics background.

1. Overview
2. Deflection of light
3. Multiple images
4. Magnification
5. Microlensing
6. Weak lensing: galaxy shapes
7. Mass from shapes
8. Cosmic shear
9. Lensing of the cosmic microwave background
Appendix A. Numbers
Appendix B. Lensing formulae.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Relativity physics [PHR], Cosmology & the universe [PGK]