Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: It is shown that gravitational lensing by point masses arranged in an infinitely extended regular lattice can be studied (semi-)analytically. In particular, we draw the critical curves and the caustic networks for the lenses arranged in regular-polygonal – square, equilateral triangle, regular hexagon – grids. From this, the mean number of positive parity images as a function of the average optical depth is derived and compared to the case of the infinitely extended field of randomly distributed lenses. We find that the high degree of the symmetry in the lattice arrangement leads to a significant bias towards cancelling of the shear caused by the neighbouring lenses on a given lens position and lensing behaviour that is qualitatively distinct from the random star field. We also discuss some possible connections to more realistic lensing scenarios.
Author: Jin H. An
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2051894643