First-Order Light Deflection by Einstein-Strauss Vacuole Method

Abstract EN

We resolve here an outstanding problem plaguing conformal gravity in its role in making consistent astrophysical predictions.

Though its static spherically symmetric solution incorporates all the successes of Schwarzschild gravity, the fit to observed galactic rotation curves requires γ>0, while the observed increase in the Schwarzschild light deflection by galaxies appears to demand γ<0.

Here we show that, contrary to common knowledge, there is an increase in the Schwarzschild deflection angle in the vicinity of galaxies due purely to the effect of γ>0, when the idea of the Einstein-Strauss vacuole model is employed.

With the inconsistency now out of the way, conformal gravity should be regarded as a good theory explaining light deflection by galaxies.