Second-order multipole response of two nearby incoherent sources in wave-optical imaging of a Schwarzschild black hole
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We study wave-optical imaging of two nearby, mutually incoherent point sources by a Schwarzschild black hole. Using the spherical-harmonic addition theorem, we construct partial-wave fields for arbitrary source directions and form images through a finite-aperture Fourier transform. To isolate the binary structure, we compare the binary image with that of a single source of equal total brightness placed at the brightness centroid. Expanding about the centroid removes the first-order term exactly, so the leading structural correction is controlled by the second central moment, $μ_2=4a^2q/(1+q)^2$. Numerical calculations confirm the expected dependence of the residual on source half-separation and brightness ratio. We then study its wavelength dependence. At long wavelengths, the imaging kernel varies little across the source separation, making the binary nearly indistinguishable from the centroid reference. As the wavelength decreases, finer fringes enhance the residual, which grows by about a factor of three over $3\leq Mω\leq12$ ($2.09\geqλ/M\geq0.52$), even though the pair remains unresolved in the Rayleigh sense. Meanwhile, the second-order approximation gradually breaks down: its relative error first reaches unity for $17
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G3266504514
OpenAlex ID: W7215062047