Motion of spinning test bodies in Kerr spacetime

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the motion of spinning test bodies in Kerr spacetime using a multipolar approximation, deriving equations of motion, classifying orbits, and providing an exact periastron shift expression, with implications for spin corrections.

Contribution

It introduces a multipolar approximation method for spinning bodies in Kerr spacetime and derives new equations of motion and orbital classifications.

Findings

Derived equations of motion for spinning test bodies.

Classified orbital motion in Kerr spacetime.

Provided an exact expression for periastron shift.

Abstract

We investigate the motion of spinning test bodies in General Relativity. By means of a multipolar approximation method for extended test bodies we derive the equations of motion, and classify the orbital motion of pole-dipole test bodies in the equatorial plane of the Kerr geometry. An exact expression for the periastron shift of a spinning test body is given. Implications of test body spin corrections are studied and compared with the results obtained by means of other approximation schemes.