Fully Autonomous Search Tool to Investigate Directly Images and mOdeling of Unexplored Strong-lenses

ended

The effect of gravitational lensing, which means that light of a background source is deflected by a massive object such as a galaxy cluster, enables the possibility to probe the universe in multiple aspects, including the study of magnified high-redshift objects, novel cosmological measurements of the Hubble constant, and of the dark matter and dark energy density parameter values, as well as investigations on the formation and evolution of galaxy clusters and their member galaxies in an overdense environment. The project aims to develop a Fully Autonomous Search Tool to Investigate Directly Images and mOdeling of Unexplored Strong-lenses (FASTIDIoUS). The objectives of the FASTIDIoUS project are 1) to increase the sample of known strong lensing clusters using deep learning techniques, 2) to develop and model with an automated pipeline multiple galaxy-scale lenses within clusters to study their formation and evolution, and 3) to expand one model to the full cluster to make the first comparison between a state-of-the-art model based on image positions only and a model based on the image pixel values directly, yielding insight in the effect of constraining the mass parameters through the pixel values and allowing a source surface brightness reconstruction, as so far only performed with galaxy-scale lenses. The FASTIDIoUS project that I will carry out at the University of Milan is an innovative project built to impact several areas within the galaxy evolution and strong lensing fields. I will bring extensive experience in strong lens modeling and some unique expertise with deep learning tools applied to various astrophysical aspects. This will facilitate the research in the group and the transfer of knowledge, and expand my deep learning and modeling experience, transferable skills, and professional networks. Carrying out FASTIDIoUS within a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship will enhance the development of my career as a complete and independent leading researcher.