Model selection using time-delay lenses

ABSTRACT The sample of time-delay gravitational lenses appropriate for studying the geometry Universe continues to grow as dedicated campaigns, such Dark Energy Survey, (Very Large Telescope) VLT Survey Telescope (VST) ATLAS survey, and Synoptic Telescope, complete their census high-redshift sources. This catalogue now includes hundreds strong lensing systems, at least 31 which have reasonably accurate measurements. In this paper, we use them compare predictions two competing Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker models: flat Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM), characterized by adjustable parameters (H0 Ωm), Rh = ct universe (with H0 single free variable). Over past decade, latter has accounted data better than standard model, most recently emergence well-formed galaxies discovered JWST cosmic dawn. Here, show that current favours with a likelihood ∼$84{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ versus ∼$16{{\ model. level accuracy will greatly improve ongoing surveys uncover many thousands additional lens systems over next several years.