LensExplorer, a tool for the visualization of the gravitational lensing effect in the Hubble Frontiers Fields clusters

TL;DR

LensExplorer is an interactive IDL GUI tool designed for visualizing gravitational lensing effects in Hubble Frontier Fields clusters, aiding research and education by providing intuitive exploration of lensing solutions and magnifications.

Contribution

This paper introduces LensExplorer, a new user-friendly visualization tool for gravitational lensing in galaxy clusters, with publicly available models and code.

Findings

Enables visualization of lensing deflection fields.

Allows prediction of magnifications at various redshifts.

Provides an accessible platform for research and education.

Abstract

LensExplorer is an IDL GUI code that can be used to visualize the lensing deflection field derived in the Hubble Frontier Fields clusters. The code can be used for both, research and educational purposes as it offers and intuitive and user friendly way to explore the solutions in the different clusters. LensExplorer can be used to predict the magnifications at different redshifts of background sources and for a given location. We present in this document a quick guide to get started with LensExplorer. The code and lens models for the cluster A2744 and MACSJ0416.1-2403 are publicly available from this website http://www.ifca.unican.es/users/jdiego/LensExplorer/ where the new solutions (and new versions of the code) will be also uploaded as they become available.