Frame Dragging Direction for Outward Moving Test Mass

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the frame dragging effects experienced by a test mass moving outward from a rotating mass. It is established that while standard gravitoelectromagnetism suggests that the acceleration should reverse with the velocity, simulations using the GRorbits program indicate that the outward-moving mass is deflected in the co-rotating direction. The confusion arises from the differing perspectives of local and distant observers, particularly regarding the definition of "outward direction." Ultimately, the correct interpretation reveals that the acceleration direction opposes the mass's rotation, aligning with the theoretical framework.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of frame dragging in general relativity
  • Familiarity with gravitoelectromagnetism principles
  • Experience with simulation tools like GRorbits
  • Knowledge of Schwarzschild coordinates and observer perspectives
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  • Explore the mathematical foundations of gravitoelectromagnetism
  • Investigate the implications of frame dragging on satellite orbits
  • Learn about the Schwarzschild metric and its applications in general relativity
  • Examine the results of GRorbits simulations for various test mass trajectories
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Physicists, astrophysicists, and students of general relativity interested in the effects of frame dragging and gravitoelectromagnetism on orbital dynamics.

Sonderval
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I have the following question considering frame dragging:
A test mass starting at rest near a rotating mass or with an initial velocity pointing towards the center of the rotating mass will be deflected in such a way that it begins to move around the mass in the rotational direction. This is normal frame dragging.
Now consider the opposite situation: A test mass starts near the rotating mass but is moving outwards with a velocity in radial direction. In which direction would this mass be deflected?

According to standard formulations of gravitoelectromagnetism like here
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0311030
the acceleration is proportional to v×B (with B being the analogue of the magnetic field); so if I reverse the velocity, the acceleration should be reversed as well, i.e., if a moving mass is deflected to the right relative to its velocity on falling in, a mass moving out should also be deflected to the right relative to its velocity.

But when I try to see this effect (for example using the program GRorbits
http://stuleja.org/grorbits/), the outwards moving mass is deflected in the co-rotating direction.

So I'm confused which answer is correct and where the mistake in my argument concerning the cross-product lies, if there is one.

I suspect that part of the problem may be that the "outward radial direction" depends on whether I look at the situation from the point of view of a distant Schwarzschild observer or a local frame, but I am not exactly sure how to see this more clearly or make this idea exact.
 
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If I read (I'm using the word read rather loosely here, more like a momentary glance) the paper linked to correctly, ##B## should be along ##J##, the angular momentum of the mass. In this case the rotation of ##v## is about ##J## which means the change in ##v## would have the opposite sign if the direction is reversed.
 
@Paul Arveson
Thanks. Yes, and this means that if a particle flying in one direction is accelerated to the right, a particle flying in the opposite direction is also accelerated to the right.
Actually, I think I found the problem: I looked only at the deflection of the orbit in GRorbits - but I should look at how the deflection changes over time. This shows that the direction of the acceleration is actually opposite to the rotation of the mass as the formula suggests.
The initial deflection of the orbit is due to the fact that the "outward direction" is not the same for an observer close to the mass as for a distant Schwarzschild observer.
 

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