Algebraic symmetries of the observables on the sky: Variable emitters and observers

TL;DR

This paper derives exact, metric-independent relations between optical observables in general relativity, based on the symplectic structure of light propagation, with implications for astrometry and cosmology.

Contribution

It introduces a bi-local geodesic operator framework and proves new relations among observables that generalize Etherington's reciprocity, valid for any spacetime.

Findings

Derived relations between parallax, redshift, and proper motion.

Showed these relations are metric-independent and follow from symplectic geometry.

Developed a Hamiltonian formalism for light propagation in GR.

Abstract

In this paper we prove a number of exact relations between optical observables, such as trigonometric parallax, position drift and the proper motion of a luminous source in addition to the variations of redshift and the viewing angle. These relations are valid in general relativity for any spacetime and they are of potential interest for astrometry and precise cosmology. They generalize the well-known Etherington's reciprocity relation between the angular diameter distance and the luminosity distance. Similar to Etherington's relation, they hold independently of the spacetime metric, the positions and the motions of a light source or an observer. We show that those relations follow from the symplectic property of the bi-local geodesic operator, i.e., the geometric object that describes the light propagation between two distant regions of a spacetime. The set of relations we present is complete in the sense that no other relations between those observables should hold in general. In the meantime, we develop the mathematical machinery of the bi-local approach to light propagation in general relativity and its corresponding Hamiltonian formalism.