Maxwell–Chern–Simons theory for curved spacetime backgrounds Original Research Article

We consider a modified version of four-dimensional electrodynamics, which has a photonic Chern–Simons-like term with spacelike background vector in the action. Light propagation in curved spacetime backgrounds is discussed using the geometrical-optics approximation. The corresponding light path is modified, which allows for new effects. In a Schwarzschild background, for example, there now exist stable bounded orbits of light rays and the two polarization modes of light rays in unbounded orbits can have different gravitational redshifts.