Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Computer Programming To Advance Gravitational Lensing, Alex Roche

Undergraduate Review

The purpose of this research was to create a computer code that would numerically test a Poisson equation relating the mass distribution of a lens galaxy cluster to weak gravitational shear. Einstein’s theory of general relativity predicts that space-time is bent by massive objects, and in weak gravitational lensing, galaxy clusters act as lenses. The observable result is that galaxies far behind the gravitational lens will appear slightly more elliptical than they actually are. The ellipticity of the background galaxies is quantifiable and is directly related to the weak gravitational shear, and the shear is used to determine the mass …

EΠi + 1=0: The History & Development, Dawne Charters-Nelson

Undergraduate Review

I have on occasion run across the equation in books, articles and in conversation with other mathematicians. In each of these encounters the person alluded to a fascination with this equation which links the five most important constants in the whole of analysis:

• 0 = The additive identity
• 1 = The multiplicative identity
• π = The circular constant
• e = The base of the natural logarithms
• i = The imaginary unit

Being a novice mathematician, I wondered how all these fundamental constants could end up in one equation and what it meant. Along with this thought came the realization that …

A Mathematical Journey Through The Land Of The Maya, Philip Scalisi, Paul Fairbanks

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.