gravitational lensing Archives

Left: amplification and PSF pattern of the transmitting lens (9) projected on the solar system plotted for two wavelengths. The solid line represents λ = 1.0 µm, the dotted line is for λ = 2.0 µm. Right: a three-dimensional representation of the PSF in the image plane for λ = 1.0 µm with the peak corresponding to direction along the transmitter-lens line. -- gr-qc

Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report

Search For Gravitationally Lensed Interstellar Transmissions

by Keith CowingApril 2, 2024April 2, 2024

We consider interstellar light transmission aided by a gravitational lens. We find that optimal reception efficiency occurs in lensing geometries where the transmitter, lens, and receiver are nearly aligned.

Microlensing magnification, in magnitudes, as a function of the source position for the positive parity image A. The right column assumes that all mass is in stellar-mass objects while the left includes a contribution from planetary-mass (nano-) lenses. The top row is for a point (or, more precisely, pixel-sized) source while the maps in the middle are convolved with a Gaussian disc of half-light radius 𝑅𝑠 = 3 × 1015 cm.-- astro-ph.CO

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Free-floating “Planets” In The Macrolensed Quasar Q2237+0305

by Keith CowingJanuary 12, 2024January 12, 2024

It has been claimed that the variability of field quasars resembles gravitational lensing by a large cosmological population of free-floating planets with mass of about 10 Earths.