Led by J.A. Muñoz, this research line leverages gravitational lensing to explore key astrophysical and cosmological questions. Coordinated with the IAC, this research line has been continuously funded by the R+D National Plan since 2004 and includes leading international researchers. By analyzing the deflection of light caused by gravitational fields, the project aims to address several objectives, with a particular focus on investigating the nature and abundance of various types of dark deflectors—ranging from planets and stars to primordial black holes (PBHs), sub-halos, and SMBHs—through micro- and milli-lensing effects; and probing the innermost regions of quasars and AGNs, including the broad-line region (BLR), accretion disk, and potentially even the BH shadow and event horizon, by exploiting the spatial and kinematic resolution enabled by caustic crossings and gravitational redshift.  The GL group has led efforts in applying spectroscopy to the study of gravitational lens systems and are now developing novel methodologies for analyzing microlensing light curves—particularly those based on ML—to efficiently process and interpret the vast datasets expected from forthcoming astronomical surveys, especially those led by the LSST.

Senior researchers: J.A. Muñoz