Skip to main content

So much gain at 550 AU

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Mathematical SETI

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books ((ASTRONOMY))

Abstract

The gravitational focusing effect of the Sun is one of the most amazing discoveries produced by the general theory of relativity. The first paper in this field was published by Albert Einstein in 1936 [1], but his work was virtually forgotten until 1964, when Sydney Liebes of Stanford University [2] gave the mathematical theory of gravitational focusing by a galaxy located between the Earth and a very distant cosmological object, such as a quasar.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

REFERENCES

  1. A. Einstein, “Lens-like action of a star by the deviation of light in the gravitational field,” Science, 84 (1936), 506–507.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. S. Liebes, Jr., “Gravitational lenses,” Physical Review, 133 (1964), B835–B844.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. V. Eshleman, “Gravitational lens of the Sun: Its potential for observations and communications over interstellar distances,” Science, 205 (1979), 1133–1135.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. F. Drake, “Stars as gravitational lenses,” in G. Marx (Ed.), Proceedings of the Bioastronomy International Conference, Balatonfu¨red, Hungary, June 22–27, 1987, pp. 391–394.

    Google Scholar 

  5. N. Cohen, “The pro’s and con’s of gravitational lenses in CETI,” in G. Marx (Ed.), Proceedings of the Bioastronomy International Conference, Balatonfu¨red, Hungary, June 22–27, 1987, p. 395.

    Google Scholar 

  6. F. Drake and D. Sobel, Is Anyone Out There? Delacorte Press, New York, 1992. See pp. 230–234 in particular.

    Google Scholar 

  7. N. Cohen, Gravity’s Lens, Wiley Science Editions, New York, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  8. C. Maccone, “Space missions outside the Solar System to exploit the gravitational lens of the Sun,” in C. Maccone (Ed.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Space Missions and Astrodynamics, Turin, Italy, June 18, 1992, published in Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 47 (1994), 45–52.

    Google Scholar 

  9. C. Maccone, “FOCAL: A new space mission to 550AU to exploit the gravitational lens of the Sun,” a proposal for an M3 Space Mission submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA) on May 20, 1993, on behalf of an international team of scientists and engineers. Later (October 1993) reconsidered by ESA within the Horizon 2000 Plus space mission plan.

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. Heidmann and C. Maccone, “AstroSail and FOCAL: Two extra-Solar System missions to the Sun’s gravitational focuses,” Acta Astronautica, 35 (1994), 409–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. C. Maccone, “The SETISAIL Project,” in G. Seth Shostak (Ed.), Progress in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Proceedings of the 1993 Bioastronomy Symposium, University of California at Santa Cruz, August 16–20, 1993, published in Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, 74 (1995), 407–417.

    Google Scholar 

  12. R. Orta, P. Savi, and R Tascone, “Analysis of gravitational lens antennas,” in C. Maccone (Ed.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Space Missions and Astrodynamics, Turin, Italy, June 18, 1992, published in Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 47 (1994), 53–56.

    Google Scholar 

  13. John D. Kraus, Radio Astronomy, Second Edition, Cygnus-Quasar Books, Powell, OH, 1966. See pp. 6-115–6-118 in particular.

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. Hawkyard and A. Anselmi, QUASAT Industrial Phase A Study, Executive Summary, Aeritalia GSS Report QS-RP-A1-0004, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudio Maccone .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Maccone, C. (2012). So much gain at 550 AU. In: Mathematical SETI. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27437-4_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27437-4_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27436-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27437-4

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics