The motion of rotating spheroidal bodies in general relativity

The motion of two rotating spheroidal bodies, constituting the components of a binary system in a weak gravitational field, has been considered up to terms of the second order in the small parameterV/c, whereV denotes the velocity of the bodies andc is the velocity of light.The following simplifying assumptions, consistent with a problem of astronomical interest, have been made: (1) the dimensions of the bodies are small compared with their mutual distance; (2) the bodies consist of matter in the fluid state with internal hydrostatic pressure and their oblateness is due to their own rotation; (3) there exist axial symmetry about the axis of rotation and symmetry with respect to the equatorial plane, the same symmetry properties apply to mass densities and stress tensors.The Fock-Papapetrou method was used to ascertain those terms in the equations of motion which are due to the rotation and to the oblateness of each component. Approximate solutions to the Poisson and wave equations were obtained to express the potential and retarded potential at large distances from the bodies generating them. The explicit evaluation of certain integrals has necessitated the use of the Laplace-Clairaut theory for the equibrium configuration of rotating bodies. The final expressions require the knowledge of the mass density as a function of the mean radius of the equipotential surfaces.As an interpretation of the results, the Lagrangian perturbation equations were employed to evaluate the secular motion of the nodal line for the relative orbit of the two components. The results constitute a generalization of Fock's work and furnish the contribution of the mass distribution to the rotation effect of general relativity.