Strong Lensing and Nonminimally Coupled Electromagnetism

Abstract

The lensing at large deflection angles caused by a Schwarzschild black hole for the case of a nonminimal coupling between gravitation and electromagnetism is examined. We show that photons follow an effective geometry, which displays an effective photon sphere. For the case in which the source, lens and observer are aligned, so that relativistic Einstein rings are formed, the dependence of the angular separation δθ between the first and second ring with the relevant coupling parameter is calculated. We argue that such a separation, which may be measured by telescopes that will be operative in the near future, may set an upper and a lower limit for the coupling parameter.