Basic Elements of Strong Gravitational Lensing
Name
11214_2025_Article_1171.pdf
Size
2.81 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
39d0cffb74e90a411104d769fc62bbe2
Author(s)
Schechter, Paul L.
Schnittman, Jeremy D.
Date Issued
May 30, 2025
Journal
Space Science Reviews
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Citation
Schechter, P.L., Schnittman, J.D. Basic Elements of Strong Gravitational Lensing. Space Sci Rev 221, 49 (2025).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Even when used to describe the same phenomenon, equations, graphics and words each give different perspectives and lead to complementary insights. The basic elements of strong gravitational lensing are introduced here favoring words and graphics over equations whenever possible. Fermat’s principle is the fundamental driver of strong lensing. Three “D’s” encapsulate the essential effects of lensing: Delay, Deflection and Distortion. Gravity and geometry both contribute to the delay of photons from a lensed source. Their interplay determines how the images of a source are deflected and how they are stretched or compressed. Caustics and critical curves are explained. Images of doubly, triply, quadruply and quintuply lensed sources are displayed. A table of symbols, their definitions and distinctions provides a summary of the basic elements of strong lensing.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-025-01171-9
