A Simple and Practical Algorithm for Accurate Gravitational Magnification Maps
Abstract
In this brief communication, a new method is outlined for modelling magnification patterns on an observer's plane using a first-order approximation to the null geodesic path equations for a point mass lens. For each ray emitted from a source, an explicit calculation is made for the change in position on the observer's plane due to each lens mass. By counting the number of points in each small area of the observer's plane, the magnification at that point can be determined. This allows for a very simple and transparent algorithm. A short Matlab code sample for creating simple magnification maps due to multiple point lenses is included in an appendix.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
- Pub Date:
- January 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1017/pasa.2016.62
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1612.04872
- Bibcode:
- 2017PASA...34....6W
- Keywords:
-
- gravitational lensing: micro;
- methods: analytical;
- methods: numerical;
- planets and satellites: detection;
- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia