Einstein radius ($R_E=D_l{\theta }_E$)

For a point lens of mass $m$ at observer distance $D_l$ and source distance $D_s$ in a nearby Euclidean geometry, the Einstein radius in the lens plane is $R_E=\sqrt{4Gm{D}_l(D_s-D_l)/(c^2{D}_s)}$. Its angular version is ${\theta }_E=R_E/D_l$. This is the ring radius for perfect alignment and the characteristic transverse scale of a gravitational microlensing event. A crossing timescale is $t_E=R_E/v_{\perp }$, proportional to the square root of lens mass at fixed geometry and speed.

The Einstein angular radius is the angular form of the Einstein radius: $R_E=D_l{\theta }_E$ in the lens plane. Its displayed value applies to a point-mass gravitational lens with the angular diameter distances defined above. It depends on source distance as well as lens mass and position. At fixed distances, multiplying $M$ by four doubles ${\theta }_E$.

At exact alignment, the vector thin gravitational lens equation is $0=(1-{\theta }_E^2/r^2)\mathbf{\theta }$. For a nonzero image direction it requires $r={\theta }_E$ and leaves the direction unrestricted: all azimuths form an Einstein ring. The signed equation's roots $\theta =\pm {\theta }_E$ are only a diameter cut through that circle. A source of finite angular size makes an annulus or arcs with finite received light; the infinite point-source lensing magnification at alignment is an idealization. An Einstein ring expresses rotational symmetry and source alignment, not a circular arrangement of emitting stars.