Multi-plane lensing in wave optics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new polynomial-time method for modeling wave effects in multi-plane lensing, enabling better analysis of interference patterns in radio and gravitational wave observations to probe the universe.

Contribution

A novel, efficient computational approach for multi-plane wave lensing that accounts for interference effects and lens plane redshifts, advancing astrophysical modeling capabilities.

Findings

Method enables polynomial-time evaluation of multi-plane wave lensing

Interference fringes depend on lens plane redshifts

Facilitates new astrophysical observations using radio and gravitational waves

Abstract

Wave effects in lensing form a rich phenomenon at the intersection of classical caustic singularities and quantum interference, yet are notoriously difficult to model. A large number of recently observed pulsars and fast radio bursts in radio astronomy and the prospected increase in sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors suggest that wave effects will likely be observed in the near future. The interference fringes are sensitive to physical parameters which cannot be inferred from geometric optics. In particular, for multi-plane lensing, the pattern depends on the redshifts of the lens planes. I present a new method to define and efficiently evaluate multi-plane lensing of coherent electromagnetic waves by plasmas and gravitational lenses in polynomial time. This method will allow the use of radio and gravitational wave sources to probe our universe in novel ways.