Preparing for the SKA-VLBI and ngVLA-Long using strong gravitational lensing
This project is related to high-impact VLBI research in preparation for the SKA-VLBI and the ngVLA with the long baselines. INAF has a long lasting expertise in VLBI, and this project is continuing strengthening it by producing science cases related to strong gravitational lensing at milliarcsecond angular resolution with INAF leadership (also) for the next generation of VLBI arrays.
Planned activities:
Writing scientific cases based on strong lensing, distant sources, and VLBI for the new generation of arrays (SKA-VLBI) and ngVLA with long baselines:
- Scientific Case/White Chapter “SKA–VLBI view of AGN jets in the early Universe” Spingola et al. (under review), which will be published in the White Paper “Advancing Astrophysics II” https://www.skao.int/en/science-users/557/advancing-astrophysics-ii
- ngVLA-Long Scientific Case “Strong lensing and VLBI as a cosmological tool I: dark matter inference” https://ngvla.nrao.edu/page/scicase (Spingola et al. accepted by the NRAO ngVLA board)
Visiting:
- Prof. Chris Fassnacht was a guest speaker at the IRA headquarters in Bologna from February 23 to 27, 2026. He presented the results of our collaboration in the coffee talk on February 27, https://info.ira.inaf.it/info-evento/?id=323, about our latest joint papers. Additionally, he contributed to the thesis work of Cecilia Stella (graduated from INAF-IRA, University of Bologna, March 2026).
Conference and meeting participation (with contributions):
- “A new era in astrophysics: preparing for early science with the SKAO” (Gorlitz, Germany) – june 2025
- SHARP Collaboration Face-to-Face Meeting (Cogne, Italy) – september 2025
- “The Unconventional Thinking Tank” (Orvieto, Italy) – november 2025
- “TevPA 2025 “, Plenary talk (Valencia, Spain) – november 2025
- Giornate RSN Napoli, Plenary talk (Napoli, Italy) – january 2026
- “Gravitational lensing at the turning point”, Review talk (Sexten, Italy) – july 2026
Start: 2025
Duration: 2 years
Financing program: Ricerca fondamentale INAF
Referent: Cristiana Spingola (INAF)