TY - GEN
T1 - Numerical wave optics and the lensing of gravitational waves by globular clusters
AU - Moylan, Andrew J.
AU - McClelland, David E.
AU - Scott, Susan M.
AU - Searle, Antony C.
AU - Bicknell, G. V.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - We consider the possible effects of gravitational lensing by globular clusters on gravitational waves from asymmetric neutron stars in our galaxy. In the lensing of gravitational waves, the long wavelength, compared with the usual case of optical lensing, can lead to the geometrical optics approximation being invalid, in which case a wave optical solution is necessary. In general, wave optical solutions can only be obtained numerically. We describe a computational method that is particularly well suited to numerical wave optics. This method enables us to compare the properties of several lens models for globular clusters without ever calling upon the geometrical optics approximation, though that approximation would sometimes have been valid. Finally, we estimate the probability that lensing by a globular cluster will significantly affect the detection, by ground-based laser interferometer detectors such as LIGO, of gravitational waves from an asymmetric neutron star in our galaxy, finding that the probability is insignificantly small.
AB - We consider the possible effects of gravitational lensing by globular clusters on gravitational waves from asymmetric neutron stars in our galaxy. In the lensing of gravitational waves, the long wavelength, compared with the usual case of optical lensing, can lead to the geometrical optics approximation being invalid, in which case a wave optical solution is necessary. In general, wave optical solutions can only be obtained numerically. We describe a computational method that is particularly well suited to numerical wave optics. This method enables us to compare the properties of several lens models for globular clusters without ever calling upon the geometrical optics approximation, though that approximation would sometimes have been valid. Finally, we estimate the probability that lensing by a globular cluster will significantly affect the detection, by ground-based laser interferometer detectors such as LIGO, of gravitational waves from an asymmetric neutron star in our galaxy, finding that the probability is insignificantly small.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892977905&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1142/9789812834300_0038
DO - 10.1142/9789812834300_0038
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 9812834265
SN - 9789812834263
T3 - 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG11 Meeting on General Relativity
SP - 807
EP - 823
BT - 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG11 Meeting on General Relativity
PB - World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd
T2 - 11th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories, MG 2006
Y2 - 23 July 2006 through 29 July 2006
ER -