Cosmological Parameter Survey Using the Gravitational Lensing Method

Abstract

AbstractUsing a multiple-lens plane algorithm, we study light propagation in inhomogeneous universes for 43 different COBE-normalized Cold Dark Matter models, with various values of the density parameter Ω0, cosmological constant λ0, Hubble constant H0, and rms density fluctuation σ8.We performed a total of 3798 experiments, each experiment consisting of propagating a square beam of angular size 21.9″ 21.9″ composed of 116 281 light rays from the observer up to redshift z = 3. These experiments provide statistics of the magnification, shear, and multiple imaging of distant sources. The results of these experiments might be compared with observations, and eventually help constrain the possible values of the cosmological parameters. Additionally, they provide insight into the gravitational lensing process and its complex relationship with the various cosmological parameters.