Influence of a weak gravitational wave on a bound system of two point-masses.
Abstract
The problem of a weak gravitational wave impinging upon a nonrelativistic bound system of two point masses is considered. The geodesic equation for each mass is expanded in terms of two small parameters, v/c and dimensionless wave amplitude, in a manner similar to the post-Newtonian expansion; the geodesic equations are resolved into orbital and center-of-mass equations of motion. The effect of the wave on the orbit is determined by using Lagrange's planetary equations to calculate the time evolution of the orbital elements. The gauge properties of the solutions and, in particular, the gauge invariance of the secular effects are discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1086/157429
- Bibcode:
- 1979ApJ...233..685T
- Keywords:
-
- Binary Stars;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Gravitational Waves;
- Relativity;
- Stellar Mass;
- Center Of Mass;
- Coordinate Transformations;
- Equations Of Motion;
- Orbital Elements;
- Orbital Mechanics;
- Secular Variations;
- Astrophysics;
- Binaries:Gravitational Radiation