Fermat principle in arbitrary gravitational fields

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168450· OSTI ID:6917212

Kovner, I ^[1]

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1. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot (Israel)

The Fermat principle is reviewed and used to derive the zigzag path constructed for massive and massless particles in order to determine if these paths are a suitable approximation to the first order of the gravitational lens effect. It is found that such paths are suitable for thin comoving gravitational lenses to the first order in the lens effect, and also if there is a nonstationary perturbation. As an example, the Fermat principle is applied to a perturbation by gravitational waves, and the transverse velocity of the caustic motion is derived. This velocity creates difficulty for the proposal by McBreen and Metcalfe (1988) that gamma-ray bursts come from small, hot BL Lac cores crossed by microcaustics. 23 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6917212
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 351; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BL LACERTAE OBJECTS
COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DOPPLER EFFECT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMAT PRINCIPLE
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
GRAVITATIONAL LENSES
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LENSES
PERTURBATION THEORY
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
RADIATIONS