Wave-theoretical description of the solar gravitational lens

Abstract

We discuss the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves in the post-Newtonian approximation of the general theory of relativity. We consider diffraction of EM waves in the static gravitational field of a massive monopole. We develop a wave-theoretical description of the solar gravitational lens (SGL) and show that with its enormous magnifying power of $\sim 10^{11}$ (for $\lambda =1\mu$m) and angular resolution of $\lesssim 10^{-10}$ arcsec, the SGL may be used for direct megapixel imaging of an exoplanet.

5 pages

Cited by in corpus (23)

• Diffraction of electromagnetic waves in the gravitational field of the Sun
• Diffraction of light by the gravitational field of the Sun and the solar corona
• Image formation for extended sources with the solar gravitational lens
• Image formation process with the solar gravitational lens
• Imaging extended sources with the solar gravitational lens
• Diffraction of electromagnetic waves by an extended gravitational lens
• Resolved imaging of exoplanets with the solar gravitational lens
• Photometric imaging with the solar gravitational lens
• A mission architecture to reach and operate at the focal region of the solar gravitational lens
• Wave-optical treatment of the shadow cast by a large gravitating sphere
• Wave-optical treatment of the shadow cast by a large sphere
• Navigating stellar wobbles for imaging with the solar gravitational lens
• Optical properties of the solar gravitational lens in the presence of the solar corona
• Spectrally resolved imaging with the solar gravitational lens
• Imaging point sources with the gravitational lens of an extended Sun
• Gravitational lensing by an extended mass distribution
• An Examination of Geometrical and Potential Time Delays in Gravitational Lensing
• Gravitational lensing for interstellar power transmission
• On the Role of Caustic in Solar Gravitational Lens Imaging
• A Mission to Nature's Telescope for High-Resolution Imaging of an Exoplanet
• Wave optics of the solar gravity lens
• Search for gravitationally lensed interstellar transmissions
• Ultra-High-Resolution Astronomy with the Solar Gravitational Lens