On the Role of Caustic in Solar Gravitational Lens Imaging

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the Sun's quadrupole moment affects electromagnetic wave scattering in solar gravitational lensing, highlighting its importance for high-resolution imaging at sub-micrometer wavelengths.

Contribution

It introduces the impact of solar oblateness on gravitational lens imaging, extending previous models to include the Sun's quadrupole moment effects.

Findings

Oblateness significantly influences wave scattering in gravitational lensing.

Quadrupole effects are crucial for accurate high-resolution imaging.

Implications for future solar gravitational lens observations.

Abstract

We consider scattering of electromagnetic waves from a distant point source by the gravitational field of the sun, taking the field oblateness due to the quadrupole moment of the sun into account. Effects of the field oblateness can play an important role in the high resolution solar gravitational lens imaging in the sub-micrometer wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum.