Utilising the new generation of radio telescopes for gravitational lens research

• Applicant: Dr. Olaf Wucknitz
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2007 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 33237274

Radio astronomy currently sees a technological revolution. New telescopes open windows to unexplored frequencies with resolutions and sensitivities far beyond established instruments. In addition the existing telescopes are being equipped with new receiver systems which boost their sensitivity and field of view by orders of magnitude. Our project uses these new opportunities for the investigation of gravitational lenses, large mass concentrations in the Universe whose gravitational fields bend the light from background objects, producing multiple distorted and magnified images.The project consists of three parts: (a) development, test and employment of new methods to utilise these instruments in searches for gravitational lenses, especially with extended sources; (b) improve the established and develop new methods to analyse radio observations of lens systems in order to maximise the information gain for a wide field of astrophysical research; (c) apply the novel methods for a systematic and quantitative interpretation of source and lens properties, especially global and central mass profiles, ellipticities and substructure. With these results we will answer the most important questions concerning the structure and evolution of galaxies.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups