Understanding Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles in GR

In summary, this passage discusses the definition and motivation for the particle spin in general relativity. It states that if beside the intial force of gravity, there is a second force that reduces the total stressenergy of the particle, then the object has a structure. The scans of the article are much better quality than the ones provided in the original article.
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ergospherical
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I'd appreciate some clarification of this passage in the paper Spinning test particles in general relativity by Papapetrou,

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The definition is easy enough to understand, but what's the motivation? ##X^{\alpha}## are the coordinates of points on the worldline whilst ##x^{\alpha}## are presumably arbitrary spacetime coordinates (of points near the worldline).

n.b. ##\mathfrak{T}^{\mu \nu} = \sqrt{-g} T^{\mu \nu}## and\begin{align*}
\nabla_{\nu} T^{\mu \nu} = \partial_{\nu} T^{\mu \nu} + \Gamma^{\nu}_{\sigma \nu} T^{\mu \sigma} + \Gamma^{\mu}_{\sigma \nu} T^{\sigma \nu} &= 0 \\ \\

\implies \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{-g}} \partial_{\nu} \left( \sqrt{-g} T^{\mu \nu} \right) + \Gamma^{\mu}_{\sigma \nu} T^{\sigma \nu} &= 0\\

\partial_{\nu} \left( \sqrt{-g} T^{\mu \nu} \right) + \Gamma^{\mu}_{\sigma \nu} \sqrt{-g} T^{\sigma \nu} &= 0 \\

\partial_{\nu} \mathfrak{T}^{\mu \nu} + \Gamma^{\mu}_{\sigma \nu}\mathfrak{T}^{\sigma \nu} &= 0
\end{align*}
 
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It looks like a Cartesian multipole expansion similar as in electrodynamics, where you have the electric current density ##J^{\mu}## as a source, while here it's of course the energy-momentum tensor as a source of the gravitational field.

BTW: The scans via JSTOR are much better in quality:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/98893
 
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ergospherical said:
I'd appreciate some clarification of this passage in the paper Spinning test particles in general relativity by Papapetrou,

View attachment 288176

The definition is easy enough to understand, but what's the motivation? ##X^{\alpha}## are the coordinates of points on the worldline whilst ##x^{\alpha}## are presumably arbitrary spacetime coordinates (of points near the worldline).
If beside [itex]\int d^3x \sqrt{-g} T^{\mu\nu} \neq 0[/itex], you have a vanishing higher moments, [itex]\int d^3x \sqrt{-g} \delta x^{\rho}T^{\mu\nu} = 0[/itex] for all [itex]\rho, \mu, \nu[/itex], then the object has no structure, i.e., a single-pole particle. And if the first moment does not vanish, i.e. for some values of the indices, [itex]\int d^3x \sqrt{-g} \delta x^{\rho}T^{\mu\nu} \neq 0[/itex], the object has a structure, i.e., pole-dipole particle. See equations 6,7 and 8 in
https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-the-stress-energy-tensor.547502/post-3616065
 
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FAQ: Understanding Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles in GR

What is the significance of Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles in GR?

Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles play a crucial role in understanding the behavior of spinning objects in the theory of General Relativity (GR). They help us understand how spinning particles interact with the curved spacetime predicted by GR and provide insights into the nature of gravity.

How are Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles different from other test particles?

Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles are unique because they take into account the spin of the particle, whereas other test particles only consider the particle's mass and charge. This allows for a more accurate description of the behavior of spinning objects in GR.

What is the mathematical framework for Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles in GR?

Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles are described using the equations of motion derived from the Papapetrou-Dixon equations, which take into account the particle's spin, mass, and charge, as well as the curvature of spacetime. These equations are based on the principles of General Relativity and are used to study the behavior of spinning objects in curved spacetime.

How do Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles help us understand the nature of gravity?

By studying the motion of spinning particles in the curved spacetime predicted by GR, we can gain insights into the nature of gravity. This includes understanding how gravity affects objects with different properties, such as spin, and how it influences the overall structure of the universe.

What applications do Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles have in other fields of science?

Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles have applications in various fields of science, including astrophysics, cosmology, and quantum mechanics. They help us understand the behavior of spinning objects in extreme environments, such as black holes, and can also be used to test the predictions of other theories, such as quantum gravity.

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