No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 September 2008
Gravitational lenses yield a very high rate of return onobservational investment. Given their scarcity, their impact on ourknowledge of the universe is very significant. In the weak-fieldlimit, lensing studies are based on well-established physics and thusoffer a straightforward approach to pursue many currently pressingproblems of astrophysics and cosmology. Examples of these are thesignificance of dark matter and the density, age and size of theuniverse. I present recent developments in cosmological applicationsof gravitational lenses, focusing on estimates of the Hubble constantusing strong lensing of quasars. I describe our recent measurements oftime delays for the images of SDSS J1004+4112, and discuss prospects forthe future utilizing synoptic telescopes, planned and underconstruction.