Gravitational lensing limits on the cosmological constant in a flat universe

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185884· OSTI ID:6155105

Turner, E L ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ. Observatory, NJ (USA) National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka (Japan)

Inflationary cosmological theories predict, and some more general aesthetic criteria suggest, that the large-scale spatial curvature of the universe k should be accurately zero (i.e., flat), a condition which is satisfied when the universe's present mean density and the value of the cosmological constant Lambda have certain pairs of values. Available data on the frequency of multiple image-lensing of high-redshift quasars by galaxies suggest that the cosmological constant cannot make a dominant contribution to producing a flat universe. In particular, if the mean density of the universe is as small as the baryon density inferred from standard cosmic nucleosynthesis calculations or as determined from typical dynamical studies of galaxies and galaxy clusters, then a value of Lambda large enough to produce a k = 0 universe would result in a substantially higher frequency of multiple-image lensing of quasars than has been observed so far. Shortcomings of the available lens data and uncertainties concerning galaxy properties allow some possibility of escaping this conclusion, but systematic searches for a gravitational lenses and continuing investigations of galaxy mass distributions should soon provide decisive information. It is also noted that nonzero-curvature cosmological models can account for the observed frequency of galaxy-quasar lens systems and for a variety of other constraints. 61 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6155105
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 365; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BARYONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
COSMOLOGY
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GRAVITATIONAL LENSES
HADRONS
INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE
LENSES
LIMITING VALUES
MASS DISTRIBUTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASARS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION