Get-Together Math Seminar

Speaker: Marcus Werner (IPMU)
Title: Optical Geometry
Date (JST): Thu, Apr 26, 2012, 15:30 - 17:00
Place: Seminar Room A
Abstract: This talk will be an introduction to the optical geometry of stationary spacetimes in general relativity, whose geodesics are the spatial light rays. The Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions will be discussed as examples. Using the Gauss-Bonnet theorem, a topological criterion for conjugate points (corresponding to multiple images in gravitational lensing) will be presented, as well as a new method to determine leading terms of the asymptotic deflection angle of light rays. Relevant background from Finsler geometry will be introduced. This get-together seminar is also intended as a math-astro seminar.