Microlensing due to both gravitation and refraction as a further probe of universe evolution

Abstract

Microlensings events are predicted for the light coming from cosmological sources. In addition to the microlensing due to gravitation lensing, microlensing produced also by refraction of light due to either ionized, or not, gas clouds can be considered. A detailed prediction is here given assuming that the ray of light coming from the distant source traverses a gas cloud with a King's density profile for various possible environments. We conclude that the additional deviation due to relativistic refraction is in most cases negligible compared to the gravitational deviation. Deviation due to refraction can anyway become an interesting analysis tool for future facility with great resolving power and the effects can be singled out with dedicated surveys.