Light Propagation in Arbitrary Spacetimes and the Gravitational Lens Approximation

Details Light Propagation in Arbitrary Spacetimes and the Gravitational Lens Approximation Light Propagation in Arbitrary Spacetimes and the Gravitational Lens Approximation

1994-03-24

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9403056v1

Class.Quant.Grav.11:2345-2374,1994

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

31 pages, uuencoded compressed postscript; preprint MPA 787

Scientific paper

10.1088/0264-9381/11/9/016

We reformulate the transport equation which determines the size, shape and orientation of infinitesimal light beams in arbitrary spacetimes. The behaviour of such light beams near vertices and conjugate points is investigated, with special attention to the singular behaviour of the optical scalars. We then specialize the general transport equation to the case of an approximate metric of an inhomogeneous universe, which is a Friedmann metric `on average' with superposed isolated weak matter inhomogeneities. In a series of well-defined approximations, the equations of gravitational lens theory are derived. Finally, we derive a relative optical focusing equation which describes the focusing of light beams relative to the case that the beam is unaffected by matter inhomogeneities in the universe, from which it follows immediately that no beam can be focused less than one which is unaffected by matter clumps, before it propagates through its first conjugate point.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Light Propagation in Arbitrary Spacetimes and the Gravitational Lens Approximation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Light Propagation in Arbitrary Spacetimes and the Gravitational Lens Approximation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Light Propagation in Arbitrary Spacetimes and the Gravitational Lens Approximation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-515200