Optical properties of null geodesics emerging from dynamical systems

Abstract

Abstract We study optical metrics via null geodesics as a central force system, deduce the related Binet equation and apply the analysis to certain solutions of Einstein’s equations with and without spherical symmetry. A general formula for the deflection angle in the weak lensing regime for the Schwarzschild-Tangherlini (ST) metric is derived. In addition, we obtain a new weak lensing formula for the deflection angle on the equatorial plane of a Kerr black hole (BH). We also explore the bending of light by considering the gravitational objects described by the Tomimatsu–Sato (TS) metric.