I Understanding Papapetrou's Spinning Test Particles in GR

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The discussion focuses on the motivation behind the definitions in Papapetrou's paper on spinning test particles in general relativity, specifically the distinction between worldline coordinates (X^α) and arbitrary spacetime coordinates (x^α). Participants highlight the relationship between the energy-momentum tensor and gravitational fields, drawing parallels to electrodynamics through a Cartesian multipole expansion. The conversation also addresses the implications of vanishing higher moments in the context of particle structure, differentiating between single-pole and pole-dipole particles based on the behavior of integrals involving the energy-momentum tensor. Clarifications on these concepts are sought to deepen understanding of the framework presented in the paper. Overall, the discussion underscores the complexities of modeling spinning test particles in general relativity.
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 \int d^3x \sqrt{-g} T^{\mu\nu} \neq 0, you have a vanishing higher moments, \int d^3x \sqrt{-g} \delta x^{\rho}T^{\mu\nu} = 0 for all \rho, \mu, \nu, 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, \int d^3x \sqrt{-g} \delta x^{\rho}T^{\mu\nu} \neq 0, 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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Moderator's note: Spin-off from another thread due to topic change. In the second link referenced, there is a claim about a physical interpretation of frame field. Consider a family of observers whose worldlines fill a region of spacetime. Each of them carries a clock and a set of mutually orthogonal rulers. Each observer points in the (timelike) direction defined by its worldline's tangent at any given event along it. What about the rulers each of them carries ? My interpretation: each...

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