Dynamics of extended bodies in general relativity center-of-mass description and quasirigidity
Abstract
Dixon's approach to describe the dynamics of extended bodies in metric theories of gravity is elaborated. The exact, general relation between the center-of-mass 4-velocity and the 4-momentum is derived. Quasirigid bodies are defined, and their equations of motion are shown to be determinate for a given metric. Multipole approximations are considered, and the physical meaning of quasirigidity is investigated by establishing an approximate connection with continuum mechanics.
- Publication:
-
General Relativity and Gravitation
- Pub Date:
- March 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00763547
- Bibcode:
- 1977GReGr...8..197E