Astronomy and Astrophysics Seminars
Test particles and electromagnetic fields in exact gravitational wave spacetimes
by Dr. Maria Haney (The Sapienza University of Rome and ICRANet)
Thursday, June 20, 2013
from
to
(Asia/Kolkata)
at Colaba Campus ( AG 80 )
at Colaba Campus ( AG 80 )
TIFR
Description |
We consider the propagation of massive neutral test particles and electromagnetic waves in the background of radiation fields that are generated either by an exact gravitational wave or an exact electromagnetic wave in the framework of general relativity. The features of the scattering of massive particles are analysed and compared, depending on the nature of the radiation field considered. To study the light scattering by these radiation fields we develop the optical medium analogy of the associated background, allowing for a comparison of the distinct optical properties of the equivalent optical media. We are able to identify certain detectable observational consequences arising from our analysis, e.g., the deflection and delay of photon beams, the response of a Michelson interferometer to gravitational waves beyond linear approximation, etc. Lastly, we discuss some interesting physical effects related to light propagation in the background of colliding gravitational waves. |