The History of Gravitational Lensing in Cosmology by Nick Kaiser

Explore the fascinating history of gravitational lensing in cosmology through this comprehensive lecture by renowned physicist Nick Kaiser. Trace the evolution of this field from Newton's initial understanding of light deflection to Einstein's groundbreaking calculations and its modern applications in cosmology. Discover how early puzzling observations of quasar-galaxy associations and galaxy-galaxy lensing led to the development of weak lensing techniques. Learn about the significant contributions of Tony Tyson's group in measuring distortions in the "cosmic wallpaper" caused by galaxy clusters. Gain insights into the application of Raychauhuri's approach to light propagation in this context. Delivered by a distinguished expert in the field, this talk provides a thorough overview of gravitational lensing's role in cosmology as it enters a "golden age" with the advent of Euclid and LSST projects.