Research Division Seminar
The present and future of gravitationally lensed supernovae

Abstract

Strongly lensed supernovae are extremely rare and powerful probes that can give insights into high-redshift supernova physics, substructures in massive galaxies, and the expansion rate of the Universe. Currently, the lensed supernova field is at a turning point, as we will go from a handful of present discoveries to several hundreds per year with the advance of the next generation of telescopes. In this talk, I will present the current state of the lensed supernova field and future developments. Beginning with the discovery story of ‘SN Zwicky’, a lensed type Ia supernova found with the Zwicky Transient Facility, I will take you on a visual journey, using beautiful observations to highlight our discoveries about SN Zwicky, its exceptionally light lens galaxy, and implications for stellar microlensing. Finally, we will look ahead at the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory and how it will help us discover more lensed supernovae and refine our understanding of the Universe’s expansion.