Propagation of light in Schwarzschild geometry

Sina Khorasani

doi:10.1117/12.840470

25 February 2010 Propagation of light in Schwarzschild geometry

Sina Khorasani

Proceedings Volume 7597, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XVIII; 75971Y (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.840470
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2010, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

In this paper, the equivalent medium of Schwarzschild metric is discussed. The corresponding ray-tracing equations are integrated for the equivalent medium of the Schwarzschild geometry, which describes the curved space around a spherically symmetric, irrotational, and uncharged blackhole. We make comparison to the well-known expression by Einstein. While Einstein's estimate is reasonably good for large closest distances of approach to the star, it disregards the optical anisotropy of space. Instead, Virbhadra's estimate which takes the effects of anisotropy of Schwarzschild metric is shown to be more consistent with numerical simulations. Hence, a true physical anisotropy in the velocity of light under gravitational field does exist. We argue that the existence of such an optical anisotropy could be revealed exactly in the same way that the optical interferometry is expected to detect gravitational waves. Therefore, if no optical anisotropy under gravitational fields could be observed, then the possibility of interferometric detection of gravitational waves is automatically ruled out, and vice versa.

Citation Download Citation

Sina Khorasani "Propagation of light in Schwarzschild geometry", Proc. SPIE 7597, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XVIII, 75971Y (25 February 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.840470

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available