SIMBAD references

2000ApJ...541..728Z - Astrophys. J., 541, 728-733 (2000/October-1)

Superluminal caustics of close, rapidly rotating binary microlenses.

ZHENG Z. and GOULD A.

Abstract (from CDS):

The two outer triangular caustics (regions of infinite magnification) of a close binary microlens move much faster than the components of the binary themselves, and can even exceed the speed of light. When ε≳1, where εc is the caustic speed, the usual formalism for calculating the lens magnification breaks down. We develop a new formalism that makes use of the gravitational analog of the Liénard-Wiechert potential. We find that as the binary speeds up, the caustics undergo several related changes: First, their position in space drifts. Second, they rotate about their own axes so that they no longer have a cusp facing the binary center of mass. Third, they grow larger and dramatically so for ε{Gt}1. Fourth, they grow weaker roughly in proportion to their increasing size. Superluminal caustic-crossing events are probably not uncommon, but they are difficult to observe.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): Stars: Binaries: General - Cosmology: Gravitational Lensing

Simbad objects: 7

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