The next decade of weak lensing science

Rachel Mandelbaum

November 12, 2012

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Abstract: Gravitational lensing is a highly useful way to observe the total matter content of the universe, including dark matter. Given the strong observational support for the claim that most of the matter in the universe is dark, weak lensing is a critical part of current and future observational efforts in cosmology and galaxy formation/evolution. In this talk, I will begin with a review of some key ways that lensing has already addressed questions in these areas. Next, I will discuss some important lessons learned in the past 5 years, focusing particularly on the synergy between weak lensing measurements and other observations such as redshift surveys; this will include some new results using SDSS data. I will conclude with a summary of what we expect to learn with near-future surveys such as DES, HSC, KIDS, and Pan-STARRS, on our way to longer-term projects such as LSST, WFIRST, and Euclid.