Strong Gravitational Lensing at High Spectral Resolution

当来自一个遥远星系的光被另一个星系沿视线的引力弯曲时，引力透镜就发生了。光线在天空中延伸到更大的区域，使背景星系看起来更亮，但扭曲了它的形状。研究背景星系和前景透镜的传统方法是将理论模型应用于高角度分辨率的观测。该项目的目标是将新的理论模型应用于高分辨率的观测，如射电望远镜所做的观测。PI(理论家)和Co-PI(观察者)将与罗格斯大学的研究生和本科生合作实现这一目标。该项目将支持美国之前对大型射电望远镜阵列的投资，并提高对暗物质、黑洞和星系演化的理解。该项目还将培训学生进行研究，包括来自贫困家庭的正在崛起的二年级学生。该项目将引入一种新的方法来模拟来自NSF的超大阵列、阿塔卡马大毫米/亚毫米阵列和类似设施的数据。新方法将在PI的公共透镜模型软件包中实现。它将应用于两类遥远星系中的紧凑型和延长型透镜。对于透镜类星体宿主星系，该项目将研究黑洞标度关系的演变。对于透镜状尘埃状恒星形成星系，该项目将研究恒星形成的一种极端模式。由此产生的模型将用于表征透镜面亚结构，并测试冷暗物质结构形成范式。除了培训研究生，PI和Co-PI还将通过罗格斯大学为一年级教育机会基金学生开设的新研讨会课程，引入本科生进行研究。本课程将结合专业发展、来自不同背景的科学家和工程师的传记材料，以及实践研究活动。

Gravitational lensing occurs when light from a distant galaxy is bent by gravity from another galaxy along the line of sight. The light is stretched over a larger area on the sky, making the background galaxy appear brighter but distorting its shape. A traditional way to study the background galaxies and foreground lenses is to apply theoretical models to observations with high angular resolution. The goal of this project is to apply new theoretical models to observations with high resolution, like those made by radio telescopes. The PI (a theorist) and Co-PI (an observer) will work with Rutgers graduate and undergraduate students to achieve this goal. The project will support prior U.S. investments in large arrays of radio telescopes and improve the understanding of dark matter, black holes, and galaxy evolution. The project will also train students in research, including rising sophomores from disadvantaged backgrounds.This project will introduce a new way to model data from NSF's Very Large Array, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and similar facilities. The new method will be implemented in the PI's public lensmodel software package. It will be applied to both compact and extended lenses in two types of distant galaxies. With lensed quasar host galaxies the project will examine the evolution of black hole scaling relations. With lensed dusty star-forming galaxies the project will examine an extreme mode of star formation. The resulting models will be used to characterize lens-plane substructure and test the cold dark matter structure formation paradigm. In addition to training graduate students, the PI and Co-PI will introduce undergraduate students to research through a new seminar course for first-year Educational Opportunity Fund students at Rutgers. This class will combine professional development, biographical material on scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds, and hands-on research activities.