GRASP colloquium by Prof. dr. Tjonnie Li, KU Leuven

Curvature on Curvature: Gravitational Lensing of Gravitational Waves

Abstract
Gravitational lensing, the bending and distortion of waves from a distant object by the gravitational field of a massive object, is widespread in electromagnetic astrophysics and, in principle, may also be uncovered with gravitational waves. We examine gravitational-wave events in the limit of Geometric Optics, where we expect to see multiple signals from the same event with different arrival times and amplitudes, and Wave Optics, where we expect to see effects such as interference and diffraction. I will review existing results and discuss several exciting opportunities for gravitational-wave lensing, which may uncover hidden objects and structures and open new windows in fundamental physics and astrophysics.