Abstract
An explanation is proposed for the fact thatpp-waves superpose linearly when they propagateparallelly, while they interact nonlinearly, scatter andform singularities or Cauchy horizons if they areantiparallel. Parallel pp-waves do interact, but ageneralized gravitoelectric force is exactly cancelledby a gravitomagnetic force. In an analogy, theinteraction of light beams in linearized generalrelativity is also revisited and clarified, a new result isobtained for photon to photon attraction, and aconjecture is proved. Given equal energy density in thebeams, the light-to-light attraction is twice thematter-to-light attraction and four times the matter-to-matterattraction.
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Faraoni, V., Dumse, R.M. The Gravitational Interaction of Light: From Weak to Strong Fields. General Relativity and Gravitation 31, 91–105 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018867405133
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018867405133