Weak Lensing of Type Ia Supernovae

Abstract: Studying weak gravitational lensing of type Ia supernovae is a valuable tool to have in cosmology. Gravitational lensing may amplify the brightness of the source, affecting the brightness distribution of observed supernovae in a non-Gaussian way. Testing this magnified distribution for normality may thus reveal the observation of weak lensing. Simulation of lensing and studying the feasibility of current telescopes (ZTF) detecting it gives a first look into when this mechanism may be fully utilized.