WELCOME Reoriented since the fall 2004 towards observational cosmology, the fields of research of the Laboratory of Astrophysics investigate, among other subjects, the phenomenon of gravitational lenses, quasar host galaxies and black holes, and the formation and evolution of galaxies in the universe, from the nearby to the most distant ones. The Laboratory works closely with the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Geneva, constituting together the main center of astrophysics in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, as far as teaching, research, and the scientific information to the public are concerned. The research and teaching activities take place at EPFL/Ecublens (teaching) and at the Observatoire de Sauverny, near Versoix (research and advanced teaching).

 

SCIENTIFIC HIGHLIGHTS March 2010: First Case of Strong Gravitational Lensing by a Quasar : SDSS J0013+1523, at z = 0.120 : arXiv:1002.4991 September 2009:Compact elliptical galaxies detected with the Virtual Observatory : Science April 2009:On the contribution of large-scale structure to strong gravitational lensing : ApJ December 2008: Dissecting a supermassive black hole with natural magnifying glasses : ESO PR (Animation) / A&A I, II September 2008: First optically active magnetar-candidate discovered : ESO press release / Nature August 2008: COSMOGRAIL time delay and H0 estimation from the lensed quasar WFI J2033-4723 A&A highlight September 2007: Microlensing of the central part of a quasar: the Einstein Cross : A&A January 2007: Discovery of the first triple quasar : More information (EPFL, ESO, CALTECH & KECK press releases) November 2006: Milky Way's neighbouring galaxies have different history : ESO press release October 2006: Mass segregation in the large globular cluster 47 Tucanae : HST newscenter press release July 2006: Time delay measurement in the lensed quasar SDSS1650+42 : ADS March 2006: Discovery of a double Einstein ring : ADS Februrary 2006: The nearest gravitationally lensed quasar observed with the VLT and the Hubble Space Telescope : ADS September 2005: Discovery of a bright quasar without a massive host galaxy : Nature March 2005: A search for the most distant galaxies : ADS