APPENDIXES 28 A Geometric Optics Approximation from the Maxwell Equations 28 B The Approximate Expressions for the Christoffel Symbols 29 C Calculation of Integrals along the Light-Ray Trajectory 30 D Auxiliary Algebraic and Differential Relationships 32 Propagation of light in the gravitational field of self-gravitating spinning bodies moving with arbitrary velocities is discussed. The gravita...

Foundations of standard theory of microlensing are described, namely we consider microlensing stars in Galactic bulge, the Magellanic Clouds or other nearby galaxies. We suppose that gravitational microlenses lie between an Earth observer and these stars. Criteria of an identification of microlensing events are discussed. We also consider such microlensing events which do not satisfy these crit...

We examine the spectrum of gravitational radiation emitted by a network of cosmic strings, with emphasis on the observational constraints and the opportunities for detection. The analysis improves over past work, as we use a phenomenological model for the radiation spectrum emitted by a cosmic string loop. This model attempts to include the effect of the gravitational back-reaction on the radia...

If our Universe is a three-brane embedded in a five-dimensional antideSitter spacetime, in which matter is confined to the brane and gravity inhabits an infinite bulk space, then the causal propagation of luminous and gravitational signals is in general different. A gravitational signal traveling between two points on the brane can take a “shortcut” through the bulk, and appear quicker than a p...

We discuss the effects of an isolated gravitational lens on the rotation of the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light rays, the so called gravitational Faraday rotation, in metric theories of gravity. By applying the thin lens approximation, we derive simple expressions for extended, rotating astrophysical systems deflecting electromagnetic radiation from background sources. Higher ...

We apply the hierarchical clustering model and non-linear perturbation theory to the cosmological density and temperature fields. This allows us to calculate the intergalactic gas pressure power spectrum, SZ anisotropy power spectrum, skewness and related statistics. Then we show the effect of the non-gravitational heating. Our model confirms recent simulations yielding mass weighted gas temper...

We propose a feasible laboratory interferometry experiment with matter waves in a gravitational potential caused by a pair of artificial field-generating masses. It will demonstrate that the presence of these masses (and, for moving atoms, time dilation) induces a phase shift, even if it does not cause any classical force. The phase shift is identical to that produced by the gravitational redsh...

As a network of advanced-era gravitational wave detectors is nearing its design sensitivity, efficient and accurate waveform modeling becomes more and more relevant. Understanding of the nature of the signal being sought can have an order unity effect on the event rates seen in these instruments. The paper provides a description of key elements of the Spectral Einstein Code (SpEC), with details...

The gravitational couplings of intrinsic spin are briefly reviewed. A consequence of the Dirac equation in the exterior gravitational field of a rotating mass is considered in detail, namely, the difference in the energy of a spin12 particle polarized vertically up and down near the surface of a rotating body is h̄Ω sin θ. Here θ is the latitude and Ω = 2GJ/(cR), where J and R are, respectively,...

Similarly to a Yang–Mills propagating field, which must be nonlinear if it is to transport its own charge, only a nonlinear gravitational wave is able to transport energy and momentum. The second order solution describing such physical waves is obtained. The effects they produce on free particles consist of nonlinear oscillations along the direction of propagation. This is the signature a detec...