Dixon's extended bodies and impulsive gravitational waves

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how extended bodies respond to impulsive gravitational waves using Dixon’s model, revealing induced spin, center of mass displacement, and spin-flip effects during wave passage.

Contribution

It applies Dixon's model to impulsive gravitational waves, uncovering new effects like spin induction and center of mass shifts in extended bodies.

Findings

Bodies acquire spin due to quadrupole structure.

Center of mass moves during wave passage.

Spin-flip effects are observed.

Abstract

The "reaction" of an extended body to the passage of an exact plane gravitational wave is discussed following Dixon's model. The analysis performed shows several general features, e.g. even if initially absent, the body acquires a spin induced by the quadrupole structure, the center of mass moves from its initial position, as well as certain "spin-flip" or "spin-glitch" effects which are being observed.