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Critical Curves

We build on the notation defined in Lens Potential. The derivation is based on Principles of Gravitational Lensing by Congdon and Keeton 2018.

Basic Notation

Working with angular co-ordinates, β\beta denotes the source and θ\theta the image. We consider only a single deflected point.

The amplification tensor AA is given in terms of its inverse which is the Jacobian of the lens mapping.

A(θ)=βθ=[uθ1uθ2vθ1vθ2]\mathcal{A}(\boldsymbol{\theta}) = \frac{\partial\boldsymbol{\beta}}{\partial\boldsymbol{\theta}} = \begin{bmatrix} \frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta_1} & \frac{\partial u}{\partial \theta_2} \\\\\\\\ \frac{\partial v}{\partial \theta_1} & \frac{\partial v}{\partial \theta_2} \end{bmatrix}

where β=(u,v)\boldsymbol{\beta}=(u,v) and θ=(θ1,y)\boldsymbol{\theta}=(\theta_1,y).

The raytrace equation is given as

β=θψ\boldsymbol{\beta} = \boldsymbol{\theta} - \nabla\psi

which gives

A(θ)=[1ψθ1θ1ψθ1θ2ψθ1θ21ψθ2θ2]\mathcal{A}(\boldsymbol{\theta}) = \begin{bmatrix} 1 - \psi_{\theta_1\theta_1} & -\psi_{\theta_1\theta_2} \\\\\\\\ -\psi_{\theta_1\theta_2} & 1 - \psi_{\theta_2\theta_2} \end{bmatrix}

We can equivalently write it in normalised screen space co-cordinates

A(x)=[1ψx1x1ψx1y2ψx1y21ψy2y2]\mathcal{A}(\mathbf{x}) = \begin{bmatrix} 1 - \psi_{x_1x_1} & -\psi_{x_1y_2} \\\\\\\\ -\psi_{x_1y_2} & 1 - \psi_{y_2y_2} \end{bmatrix}

Decomposition

Since A\mathcal{A} is real and symmetric, we can decompose it using the identity matrix and the Pauli spin matrices

R=[1001]R/=[0110]R_- = \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\\\ 0 & -1 \end{bmatrix} \quad R_/ = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\\\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}

We get

A(x)=(1κ)Iγ+Rγ×R/\mathcal{A}(\mathbf{x}) = (1-\kappa)I - \gamma_+R_- - \gamma_\times R_/

where this convergence (or mass distribution) is

κ(θ)=12(ψθ1θ1+ψθ2θ2)\kappa(\theta) = \frac12( \psi_{\theta_1\theta_1} + \psi_{\theta_2\theta_2} )

and \begin{aligned} \gamma_+(\theta) &= \frac12( \psi_{\theta_1\theta_1} - \psi_{\theta_2\theta_2} ) \\\\ \gamma_\times(\theta) &= \psi_{\theta_1\theta_2} \end{aligned} We can then write

A(θ)=[1κγ+γ×γ×1κ+γ+]\mathcal{A}(\boldsymbol{\theta}) = \begin{bmatrix} 1 - \kappa - \gamma_+ & - \gamma_\times \\\\\\\\ - \gamma_\times & 1 - \kappa + \gamma_+ \end{bmatrix}

It is then straight forward to prove that the eigenvalues of A(θ)\mathcal{A}(\boldsymbol{\theta}) are

λ±=(1κ)±γ+2+γ×2\lambda_\pm = (1 - \kappa) \pm \sqrt{\gamma_+^2 + \gamma_\times^2}

and we can verify that the inverse is given as

A1(θ)=1(1κ)2γ+2γ×2[1κ+γ+γ×γ×1κγ+]\mathcal{A}^{-1}(\boldsymbol{\theta}) = \frac1{(1-\kappa)^2 - \gamma_+^2 - \gamma_\times^2} \begin{bmatrix} 1 - \kappa + \gamma_+ & \gamma_\times \\\\\\\\ \gamma_\times & 1 - \kappa - \gamma_+ \end{bmatrix}

Magnification

The magnification of an image is given as

μ(θ)=detA1(θ)=1detA=λλ+=1(1κ)2γ+2γ×2\mu(\boldsymbol{\theta}) = \det \mathcal{A}^{-1}(\boldsymbol{\theta}) = \frac1{\det\mathcal{A}} = \lambda_-\lambda_+ = \frac1{(1-\kappa)^2 - \gamma_+^2 - \gamma_\times^2}

TODO What is the significance of this?

TODO Is this consistent with the inverse magnification given in some sources? The inverse magnification is

μ1(θ)=βθdβdθ\mu^{-1}(\theta) = \frac{\beta}{\theta}\cdot\frac{d\beta}{d\theta}

Critical Curves and Caustics

The critical curve is defined as the set of points where the map from source to image plane breaks down, i.e. when the magnification tends to infinity. Thus the critical curve is the solution of the equation detA=0\det\mathcal{A}=0, or

0=λλ+=(1κ)2γ+2γ×20 = \lambda_-\lambda_+ = (1-\kappa)^2 - \gamma_+^2 - \gamma_\times^2

TODO Define caustic

References
  1. Congdon, A. B., & Keeton, C. R. (2018). Principles of Gravitational Lensing: Light Deflection as a Probe of Astrophysics and Cosmology. Springer International Publishing. 10.1007/978-3-030-02122-1