Data intensive quasar microlensing

Quasar microlensing occurs when a distant quasar's light passes through a foreground galaxy on its way to Earth, providing a unique probe of the quasar's central supermassive black hole. In the next decade, the number of known microlensed quasars is expected to increase from a few hundred to a few thousand. Paving the way for these discoveries, this thesis comprised a detailed numerical investigation of microlensing modelling techniques and the completion of the first ever, large-scale microlensing parameter survey. These outcomes were achieved using graphics processing units on a modern supercomputer, providing a link from video games to distant galaxies.