Rutgers Monday Astrophysics Research Seminars

Modern N-body simulations unanimously predict the existing of numerous "satellite" subhalos around galaxies. In the picture of hierarchical galaxy formation, the number and properties of these satellites plays an important role in galaxy evolution. Using multi-wavelength datasets, gravitational lensing can be used as a tool to probe this subhalo population. I will present our recent observational campaign using Gemini North to test CDM substructure. While results are preliminary, our initial findings indicate that lensing can powerfully constrain subhalo properties at cosmological distances.