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Explore the fascinating intersection of gravitational wave physics and gravitational lensing in this 56-minute high-energy physics seminar presented by Alice Garoffolo from the University of Pennsylvania. Delve into how gravitational waves can be deflected and magnified by intervening matter, similar to the gravitational lensing of light, but with unique characteristics due to their highly coherent nature over long wavelengths. Discover why wave-optics effects such as diffraction and interference become particularly significant when gravitational waves from compact binary mergers encounter compact lenses with sizes comparable to their wavelength. Learn about the current analysis of LVK candidate event GW231123 as a potential first detection of these wave-optics effects in gravitational waves. Examine recent theoretical developments that employ scattering-amplitude approaches to model wave-optics lensing, advancing beyond standard formalism, and understand how this phenomenon could serve as a powerful probe for investigating small-scale cosmic structures in the universe.
