Light propagation and optical scalars in torsion theories of gravity

TL;DR

This paper explores how torsion in gauge theories of gravity affects light propagation and optical scalars, revealing differences from general relativity with implications for gravitational lensing and cosmology.

Contribution

It derives the basic equations of geometric optics in torsion theories and analyzes their impact on light focusing compared to general relativity.

Findings

Focusing effects differ from those in general relativity.

Implications for gravitational lensing studies.

Potential effects on cosmological distance measurements.

Abstract

We investigate the propagation of light rays and evolution of optical scalars in gauge theories of gravity where torsion is present. Recently the modified Raychaudhuri equation in the presence of torsion has been derived. We use this result to derive the basic equations of geometric optics for several different interesting solutions of the Poincar{\'e} gauge theory of gravity. The results show that the focusing effects for neighboring light rays will be different than general relativity. This in turn has practical consequences in the study of gravitational lensing effects and also determining the angular diameter distance for cosmological objects.