ABSTRACT

This book begins with the basics of gravitational lensing, explaining how light is deflected as it passes the vicinity of mass. The focus however, is on applications related to gravitationally lensed quasars. A brief overview of the different classes of active galactic nuclei is given, as well as open questions and unknowns about these objects. Applications of gravitationally lensed quasars are described and particular attention is given to a specific case of gravitational lensing, called microlensing.

chapter 1|4 pages

INTRODUCTION

chapter 2|20 pages

BASICS OF MODERN COSMOLOGY

chapter 3|14 pages

ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

chapter 4|18 pages

GRAVITATIONAL LENSING

chapter 5|8 pages

DECONVOLUTION

chapter 6|10 pages

TIME DELAYS AND THE HUBBLE CONSTANT

chapter 7|10 pages

REDSHIFT OF LENSING GALAXIES

chapter 8|28 pages

MICROLENSING: A NATURAL TELESCOPE

chapter 9|14 pages

DYNAMICS VERSUS GRAVITATIONAL LENSING

chapter 10|4 pages

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK