An attempt is made to quantify the gravitational distortion of extragalactic radio sources in an inhomogeneous universe. The rms bending angle of an intrinsically collinear high-redshift triple source is computed, and the probability that individual galaxies along the line of sight will induce an observable kink somewhere in a long straight jet is determined. It is suggested that jets may provide an important probe of the potential in the outer regions of galaxies. The probability that groups and clusters of galaxies produce an observable distortion in a distant triple source is estimated to be about 0.07. Radio jets and triple sources also provide a probe of unseen matter in the universe clustered on scales of about 100 kpc.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Blandford et al. (1981) studied this question.