THE EFFECT OF GRAVITATION ON THE POLARIZATION STATE OF A LIGHT RAY
Journal Article
·
· Astrophysical Journal
- Department of Physics Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam (India)
In the present work, detailed calculations have been carried out on the rotation of the polarization vector of an electromagnetic wave due to the presence of a gravitational field of a rotating body. This has been done using the general expression of Maxwell’s equation in curved spacetime. Considering the far-field approximation (i.e., the impact parameter is greater than the Schwarzschild radius and rotation parameter), the amount of rotation of the polarization vector as a function of impact parameter has been obtained for a rotating body (considering Kerr geometry). The present work shows that the rotation of the polarization vector cannot be observed in the case of Schwarzschild geometry. This work also calculates the rotational effect when considering prograde and retrograde orbits for the light ray. Although the present work demonstrates the effect of rotation of the polarization vector, it confirms that there would be no net polarization of an electromagnetic wave due to the curved spacetime geometry in a Kerr field.
- OSTI ID:
- 22660934
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 833; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Electromagnetic, gravitational, and neutrino waves in flat and curved spacetime
Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves
Repulsive gravitation and electron models
Thesis/Dissertation
·
Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982
·
OSTI ID:5016127
Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves
Journal Article
·
Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 1977
· Phys. Rev., D; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:7297691
Repulsive gravitation and electron models
Journal Article
·
Sun Apr 14 23:00:00 EST 1985
· Phys. Rev. D; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6023419