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R. J. Nemiroff (Michigan Tech.)
Can a gravitational lens magnify gravity? The possibility has interesting theoretical implications on everything from string theories (is the background metric flat?) to the nature of spacetime near black holes (can virtual particles just ignore a black hole?). Leading theories of gravity likely indicate no magnification, but the effect might be testable by using our Sun as a gravitational lens and carefully aligning a satellite past the minimum transparent focal distance of about 25 AU. Here the magnitude of a maximal effect is estimated and found potentially observable.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.