Searching for Strongly-Lensed Quasars in the SDSS

Bart Pindor
Princeton University

4:15-5:15 Tuesday March 18, 2003

Abstract

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey offers an opportunity to substantially increase the known sample of gravitationally-lensed quasars. A well-defined sample is of interest both for studies of lens statistics as well as a source of objects for individual study. I will talk about an algorithm for selecting gravitational lens candidates from amongst SDSS quasars. I will also talk about how to measure the selection function of this selection algorithm through the use of simulated SDSS images and will illustrate selection effects in the SDSS quasar sample through the example of high redshift lenses. Finally, I will describe how applying this algorithm to a sample of 5120 z > 0.6 SDSS quasars implies an observed lensing fraction of not more than 4 x 10-3 and not less than 3 x 10-5 (95% confidence levels).

Return to 2003 colloquium schedule.