Imaging the invisible : constraining dark matter distributions in galaxy clusters using strong gravitational lensing
Author(s)
Corless, Virginia Leigh
DownloadFull printable version (2.693Mb)
Alternative title
Constraining dark matter distributions in galaxy clusters using strong gravitational lensing
Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.
Advisor
Samuel A. Rappaport and Scott M. Burles.
Terms of use
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In this thesis, I design and construct a Monte-Carlo gravitational lensing simulation that statistically studies the strong lensing of extended galactic sources by dark matter distributions in galaxy clusters, using recent work on cluster Abell 1689 as an empirical guide. By quantitatively comparing the quality of the lensed images created in the simulation to the giant lensed arcs observed by the Hubble Space Telescope around Abell 1689 and other similar clusters, and using an NFW analytic density profile to model the overall dark matter distribution, an upper limit is set on the scale of allowed deviations from a smooth NFW dark matter distribution. The maximum allowed mass-clumping is found to be on the order [approx.] 10⁸ M ... over volumes of order [approx.] 10kpc x 10kpc x 10kpc, indicative of a mostly smooth dark matter distribution with only relatively small deviations, much smaller than those of the distribution of conventional matter into galaxies.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2005. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-72).
Date issued
2005Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of PhysicsPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Physics.