Gravitational Lensing and the Hubble Deep Field
Abstract
We calculate the expected number of multiply-imaged galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF), using photometric redshift information for galaxies with mI < 27 that were detected in all four HDF passbands. A comparison of these expectations with the observed number of strongly lensed galaxies constrains the current value of Omegam-OmegaLambda, where Omegam is the mean mass density of the universe and OmegaLambda is the normalized cosmological constant. Based on current estimates of the HDF luminosity function and associated uncertainties in individual parameters, our 95% confidence lower limit on Omegam-OmegaLambda ranges between -0.44, if there are no strongly lensed galaxies in the HDF, and -0.73, if there are two strongly lensed galaxies in the HDF. If the only lensed galaxy in the HDF is the one presently viable candidate, then, in a flat universe (Omegam+OmegaLambda=1), OmegaLambda < 0.79 (95% C.L.). These limits are compatible with estimates based on high-redshift supernovae and with previous limits based on gravitational lensing.
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