Abstract
In this paper, we have calculated the angle of refraction that light travels approaching to the strong gravitational field like a black hole by combining the general relativity and the classical Snell’s law, assuming that the gravitational field can act as a non-vacuum filled with medium of some coefficients. We have found that the value of refracted angle exactly coincides with the value from the Einstein’s relativity theory in a weak gravitational field. From this optical interpretation of the traveling of light near a black hole, we have suggested that there might have the reflection phenomenon and investigated that the total reflection occurs at the surface of a black hole. Regardless this might cause controversy, we can explain the recent observation that light reflects from a black hole.
Highlights
According to the general relativity theory, the path of light bends by gravity, and the speed of light decreases as it approaches the surface of gravitation, and light stops at the Schwarzschild radius (i.e. r = 2GM)
We have calculated the angle of refraction that light travels approaching to the strong gravitational field like a black hole by combining the general relativity and the classical Snell’s law, assuming that the gravitational field can act as a non-vacuum filled with medium of some coefficients
We have applied the change of the speed of light in a gravitational field to the classical interpretation that the difference in speed of light mentioned in Snell’s law is directly related to the angle of refraction, and have found the refracted angle of light
Summary
According to the general relativity theory, the path of light bends by gravity, and the speed of light decreases as it approaches the surface of gravitation, and light stops at the Schwarzschild radius (i.e. r = 2GM). Snell’s law relates the ratio of the speed of light to the angle of refraction of the medium within the light travels. Considering that gravity causes the speed difference of light to change the medium, Snell’s law according to the speed difference can be applied to calculate the angle of refraction. If the refraction analysis through Snell’s law is valid, we can’t help but consider reflection, so we’ll cover this as well
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