Symplectic evolution of an observed light bundle

Abstract

Each and every observational information we obtain from the sky regarding the brightnesses, distances or image distortions resides on the deviation of a null geodesic bundle. In this talk, we present the symplectic evolution of this bundle on a reduced phase space. The resulting formalism is analogous to the one in paraxial Newtonian optics. It allows one to identify any spacetime as an optical device and distinguish its thin lens, pure magnifier and rotator components. We will discuss the fact that the distance reciprocity in relativity results from the symplectic evolution of this null bundle. Other potential applications like wavization and its importance for both electromagnetic and gravitational waves will also be summarized.