IPMU Colloquium

Speaker: Henk Hoekstra (Leiden)
Title: Weak lensing by large scale structure
Date (JST): Wed, Jan 07, 2009, 15:30 - 16:30
Place: Room 633, 6th floor, General Research Building
Abstract: Intervening structures in the universe give rise to smallistortions in the shapes ofistant galaxies. By measuring this tiny coherent signal, we can study the massistribution in the universeirectly, without relying on baryonic tracers. This makes weak lensing by large-scale structures aowerfulrobe of cosmology. I will review the topic of cosmic shear andiscuss how the signal is extractedrom theata. I willresent resultsrom recent surveys, most notably the CFHT Legacy Survey.inally I williscuss what will be required to significantly improve constraints on theroperties ofark energy.