Tracing a relativistic Milky Way within the RAMOD measurement protocol

TL;DR

This paper develops a fully relativistic model for space astrometry, accounting for gravitational effects on light propagation, to improve the accuracy of stellar measurements in missions like Gaia.

Contribution

It introduces a relativistic measurement protocol within the RAMOD framework for precise inverse ray-tracing in astrometry.

Findings

Enhanced accuracy in modeling light propagation in gravitational fields.

Potential for improved stellar distance and motion measurements.

Reveals subtle relativistic effects in light propagation.

Abstract

Advancement in astronomical observations and technical instrumentation implies taking into account the general relativistic effects due the gravitational fields encountered by the light while propagating from the star to the observer. Therefore, data exploitation for Gaia-like space astrometric mission (ESA, launch 2013) requires a fully relativistic interpretation of the inverse ray-tracing problem, namely the development of a highly accurate astrometric models in accordance with the geometrical environment affecting light propagation itself and the precepts of the theory of measurement. This could open a new rendition of the stellar distances and proper motions, or even an alternative detection perspective of many subtle relativistic effects suffered by light while it is propagating and subsequently recorded in the physical measurements.