Electromagnetic Waves in Gravitational Fields

Abstract

The scattering of plane electromagnetic waves by the gravitational field of an isolated physical system is studied. On the level of the geometrical optics approximation the general theory of light rays is formulated. In particular, the generalized formula for the Einstein deflection of light rays is obtained. On the level of the vectorial optics the problem of polarization is examined in detail. The formula obtained, describing a rotation of the plane of polarization due to the presence of the gravitational field, admits a direct geometrical interpretation. The theory is applied to the rotating body and a system of point masses. The physical results established concerning the asymptotic behavior of the electromagnetic waves are independent of the coordinate system used in the computations.