Igata, Takahisa
Phys.Rev.D 113(4) 044042-044042 2026年2月15日
In static, spherically symmetric spacetimes, the deflection angle of photons
in the strong deflection limit exhibits a logarithmic divergence. We introduce
an analytical framework that clarifies the physical origin of this divergence
by employing local, coordinate-invariant geometric quantities alongside the
properties of the matter distribution. In contrast to conventional formulations
-- where the divergence rate $\bar{a}$ is expressed via coordinate-dependent
metric functions -- our approach relates $\bar{a}$ to the components of the
Einstein tensor in an orthonormal basis adapted to the spacetime symmetry. By
applying the Einstein equations, we derive the expression \begin{align*}
\bar{a}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-8\pi
R_{\mathrm{m } }^2\left(\rho_{\mathrm{m } }+\Pi_{\mathrm{m } }\right) } }, \end{align*}
where $\rho_{\mathrm{m } }$ and $\Pi_{\mathrm{m } }$ denote the local energy
density and tangential pressure evaluated at the photon sphere of areal radius
$R_{\mathrm{m } }$. This result reveals that $\bar{a}$ is intrinsically governed
by the local matter distribution, with the universal value $\bar{a}=1$ emerging
when $\rho_{\mathrm{m } }+\Pi_{\mathrm{m } }=0$. Notably, this finding resolves the
long-standing puzzle of obtaining $\bar{a}=1$ in a class of spacetimes
supported by a massless scalar field. Furthermore, these local properties are
reflected in the frequencies of quasinormal modes, suggesting a profound
connection between strong gravitational lensing and the dynamical response of
gravitational wave signals. Our framework, independent of any specific
gravitational theory, offers a universal tool for testing gravitational
theories and interpreting astrophysical observations.