Deflection Of Light

History: Deflection of Light by Gravity

In Newton’s time, speed of light was not known, this
hampered Newton from making any definite
predictions of deflection of light by gravity.

But by late 18th Century, the finite speed of light was

well established.
 Soldner’s Calculation
The rectilinear coordinates x,y of a particle are related to the polar coordinates r,θ by
x = r cos(θ) and y = r sin(θ)
Differentiating this twice with respect to time we get:

Using Newton’s laws, we get:

Let 1/r = u d(r2ω)/dt = 0, and hence the quantity h = r2ω

is conserved.
 We get:

Simplifying,

The general solution for this

differential equation is:

Eliminating the constant by putting

du/dt = 0 at closest approach, and
assuming velocity of light at this
point to be c:
Generally, r0 >> m, so light
follows a hyperbolic path

By further approximations and calculations, we get that the deflection of light as per
Newton’s laws will be 2m/r0
Einstein’s first paper on deflection of light (1911)
● Based on the principle of equivalence
● 2 Predictions:
○ frequency of a beam of light should be shifted by a certain amount between the emission and
absorption at two different heights (potentials) in a gravitational field
○ a ray of light should be deflected by a certain amount as it passes by a gravitating body

● The quantitative prediction for the amount of deflection of light passing near a
large mass was identical to the old Newtonian prediction, δ = 2m/r0.

● A competing relativistic theory of gravity, put forward by Nordstrom at around

the same time, predicted no light deflection at all.

● No successful experiment conducted to prove it, between 1911 and 1915.

 Principle of Equivalence: A thought experiment

Imagine you are in a closed

elevator.

You won’t be able to

distinguish if the elevator is
at rest on earth or
accelerating upwards by a=g
If a light beam from outside is
allowed to enter from one side
through a whole and observed it
on the other side:

● If no relative acceleration between the

beam and the elevator, a straight path
is observed.
● If there were relative motion but no
relative acceleration between the
beam and the elevator, beam would
be displaced directly across.
● If there were relative acceleration, the
beam would follow a curved path,
curvature depending on the magnitude
of acceleration.
 Conclusion of the thought experiment:

Whatever the the gravitational effects are at a certain location in space, whatever
accelerations they induce will effect light as well.

In 1915, Einstein completed the general theory of relativity, he realised that the
paper he published in 1911 had quantitative corrections.
Derivation of Deviation from Schwarzschild Solution

● dτ = 0 (Based on time dilation)

● Single plane through center of mass - ϕ = 0

● Goal: find and then find Δ

● Geodesic Paths on (r, θ) surface:
● parameter q = r0/r , from r = r0 to ∞

● If m/r0 small,
Observing
Bending of Light by
the Sun
● General relativity's prediction of 1.75 seconds of arc
● 1919 Eclipse Test of General Relativity:
○ Sobral, Brazil 1.98 ± 0.16 arc seconds

Principe, Africa 1.61 ± 0.40 arc seconds

● More accurate measurements can now be made in the radio wavelengths.

○ Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VBLI), combining signals from widely
separate observatories, gives a tremendous improvement in resolving power
○ An analysis in 2004 of over 2 million VBLI observations has shown that the
ratio of the actual observed deflections to the deflections predicted by general
relativity is 0.99992 ± 0.00023
Thank You