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I have a basic question I can't seem to find anything on (I keep hearing about how gravitational waves and gravitational lensing were both predicted by Einstein).

We all know about the gravitational lensing effect as it relates to light. Would a gravitational wave also be subject to having its path "bent" around massive objects/following the curvature of space-time, or would it be able to pass "straight" through? (Or do we know?)

Qmechanic
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HopelessN00b
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    Yes, of course! –  Feb 13 '16 at 02:34
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    This paper analyses strong gravitational lensing effects on gravitational waves: http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.5731 –  Feb 13 '16 at 02:35
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    Roughly speaking, a gravitational wave carries energy and momentum and gravitation acts on everything that has energy and momentum, so a gravitational wave should be deflected similarly to light. – Robin Ekman Feb 14 '16 at 02:02

2 Answers2

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Of course yes, like anything belonging to the universe, but only if the perturbation is not alot smaller than the wavelength, as for any wave meeting an obstacle.

Fabrice NEYRET
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May be not, curvature of space-time itself is gravity (or acceleration). Gravity should not effect gravity wave, just like light (EM wave) would not be effected by electromagnetism.

kpv
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