Strong Gravitational Lensing in Observational Astrophysics and Cosmology
A special issue of Universe (ISSN 2218-1997). This special issue belongs to the section "Cosmology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 21
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Strong gravitational lensing has entered a transformative era with unprecedented discoveries from current surveys and the promise of thousands of new systems from upcoming facilities, and this Special Issue aims to capture its diverse applications and recent breakthroughs in using strong lensing as both an astrophysical and cosmological probe.
Strong gravitational lensing time-delay cosmography has matured into a competitive method for H0 measurements, achieving percent-level precision that directly addresses the Hubble tension. The field is rapidly expanding beyond traditional quasar lenses to strongly lensed transients—supernovae, gravitational waves, and fast radio bursts—which offer superior time-delay precision and complementary systematic uncertainties. These developments position strong lensing as a crucial late-Universe probe for dark energy and cosmological parameters.
Strong lensing continues to provide unparalleled constraints on dark matter distributions across multiple scales, from subhalos to cluster cores. The magnification of high-redshift sources enables detailed characterization of galaxy formation and evolution in the early Universe, while new machine learning techniques are revolutionizing lens discovery and modeling efficiency.
We welcome contributions addressing theoretical advances, observational discoveries, methodological innovations, and systematic uncertainty quantification in strong lensing. Topics of particular interest include time-delay measurements and cosmological implications, dark matter substructure detection, automated lens finding algorithms, multi-messenger lensing prospects, and synergies with next-generation surveys. This Special Issue seeks to highlight both current achievements and future opportunities in this rapidly advancing field.
Dr. Jingzhao Qi
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- time-delay cosmography
- Hubble constant
- lens modeling
- cosmological probes
- lensed transients
- machine learning
- high-redshift galaxies
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