Equation of motion for relativistic compact binaries with the strong field point particle limit : Formulation, the first post-Newtonian and multipole terms

We derive the equation of motion for the relativistic compact binaries in the post-Newtonian approximation taking explicitly their strong internal gravity into account. For this purpose we adopt the method of the point particle limit where the equation of motion is expressed in terms of the surface integrals. We examine carefully the behavior of the surface integrals in the derivation. As a result, we obtain the Einstein-Infeld-Hoffman equation of motion at the first post-Newtonian (1PN) order, and a part of the 2PN order which depends on the quadrupole moments and the spins of component stars. Hence, it is found that the equation of motion in the post-Newtonian approximation is valid for the compact binaries by a suitable definition of the mass, spin and quadrupole moment.Comment: revised version. 27pages, three tables, revtex. Some errors have been corrected and some explanations have been adde

A skeleton approximate solution of the Einstein field equations for multiple black-hole systems

An approximate analytical and non-linear solution of the Einstein field equations is derived for a system of multiple non-rotating black holes. The associated space-time has the same asymptotic structure as the Brill-Lindquist initial data solution for multiple black holes. The system admits an Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) Hamiltonian that can particularly evolve the Brill-Lindquist solution over finite time intervals. The gravitational field of this model may properly be referred to as a skeleton approximate solution of the Einstein field equations. The approximation is based on a conformally flat truncation, which excludes gravitational radiation, as well as a removal of some additional gravitational field energy. After these two simplifications, only source terms proportional to Dirac delta distributions remain in the constraint equations. The skeleton Hamiltonian is exact in the test-body limit, it leads to the Einsteinian dynamics up to the first post-Newtonian approximation, and in the time-symmetric limit it gives the energy of the Brill-Lindquist solution exactly. The skeleton model for binary systems may be regarded as a kind of analytical counterpart to the numerical treatment of orbiting Misner-Lindquist binary black holes proposed by Gourgoulhon, Grandclement, and Bonazzola, even if they actually treat the corotating case. Along circular orbits, the two-black-hole skeleton solution is quasi-stationary and it fulfills the important property of equality of Komar and ADM masses. Explicit calculations for the determination of the last stable circular orbit of the binary system are performed up to the tenth post-Newtonian order within the skeleton model.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Phys. Rev. D, 3 references added, minor correction

Gravitational Radiation Theory and Light Propagation

The paper gives an introduction to the gravitational radiation theory of isolated sources and to the propagation properties of light rays in radiative gravitational fields. It presents a theoretical study of the generation, propagation, back-reaction, and detection of gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. After reviewing the various quadrupole-moment laws for gravitational radiation in the Newtonian approximation, we show how to incorporate post-Newtonian corrections into the source multipole moments, the radiative multipole moments at infinity, and the back-reaction potentials. We further treat the light propagation in the linearized gravitational field outside a gravitational wave emitting source. The effects of time delay, bending of light, and moving source frequency shift are presented in terms of the gravitational lens potential. Time delay results are applied in the description of the procedure of the detection of gravitational waves

Post-Newtonian Gravitational Radiation

1 Introduction 2 Multipole Decomposition 3 Source Multipole Moments 4 Post-Minkowskian Approximation 5 Radiative Multipole Moments 6 Post-Newtonian Approximation 7 Point-Particles 8 ConclusionComment: 46 pages, in Einstein's Field Equations and Their Physical Implications, B. Schmidt (Ed.), Lecture Notes in Physics, Springe

High Performance Clocks and Gravity Field Determination

International audienceTime measured by an ideal clock crucially depends on the gravitational potential and velocity of the clock according to general relativity. Technological advances in manufacturing high-precision atomic clocks have rapidly improved their accuracy and stability over the last decade that approached the level of $10^{-18}$ . This notable achievement along with the direct sensitivity of clocks to the strength of the gravitational field make them practically important for various geodetic applications that are addressed in the present paper