Imaging the invisible : constraining dark matter distributions in galaxy clusters using strong gravitational lensing

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.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Corless, Virginia Leigh

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Samuel A. Rappaport and Scott M. Burles.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32839

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32839