Wave Optics in Gravitational Lensing
Premana W. Premadi and Imamal Muttaqien

Institut Teknologi Bandung

Abstract

Since its first detection in 2015, gravitational wave is studied more seriously and has opened many doors to relativistic astrophysics and cosmology. Most of gravitational wave sources are extragalactic at cosmological distances. As many of distant electromagnetic radiation sources are gravitational lensed, it is reasonable to suspect that the trajectory of gravitational wave could also be deflected by strong compact gravitational potential.
This paper shows preliminary study of gravitational lens of gravitational wave. While most cosmological lens cases could be described in geometrical optics, lensing of gravitational wave requires wave optics approach.
Here we illustrate the case by applying simple gravitational potential in the typical range of galaxy masses. Interference and diffraction patterns are features of this kind of lenses.

Keywords: gravitational lensing- gravitational wave

Topic: Others