The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission, launched on 20 October 2018, is currently in cruise toward Mercury. The Mercury Orbiter Radio-science Experiment (MORE), one of the 16 experiments of the mission, will exploit range and range-rate measurements collected during superior solar conjunctions to better constrain the post-Newtonian parameter $γ$. The MORE radio tracking system is capable of establishing a 5-leg link in X- and Ka-band to obtain 2-way range-rate measurements with an accuracy of $0.01 mm/s^-1$ @ 60 s sampling time and 2-way range measurements at centimeter level after a few seconds of integration time, at almost all solar elongation angles. In this paper, we investigate if the light-time formulation derived by Moyer, implemented in JPL's orbit determination code MONTE, is still a valid approximation, in light of the recent advancements in radiometric measurement performance. Several formulations of the gravitational time delay, expressed as an expansion in powers of $GM/c^2r$, are considered in this work. We quantified the contribution of each term of the light-time expansion for the first superior solar conjunction experiment of BepiColombo. The maximum 2-way error caused by Moyer approximation with respect to a complete second order expansion amounts to 17 mm. This is at the level of accuracy of the novel pseudo-noise (PN) ranging system at 24 Mcps used by MORE. A complete second order expansion is then recommended for present and future superior solar conjunction experiments. The perturbation caused by the planets in the Solar System is considered as well, resulting in significant effects due to the Jupiter, the Earth and the Saturn systems. For these bodies the classical Shapiro time delay is sufficient. The corrections due to the Sun oblateness and angular momentum are negligible.
The Mercury Orbiter radio Science Experiment (MORE) is one of the experiments on-board the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury, to be launched in October 2018. Thanks to full on-board and on-ground instrumentation performing very precise tracking from the Earth, MORE will have the chance to determine with very high accuracy the Mercury-centric orbit of the spacecraft and the heliocentric orbit of Mercury. This will allow to undertake an accurate test of relativistic theories of gravitation (relativity experiment), which consists in improving the knowledge of some post-Newtonian and related…
The radioscience experiment is one of the on board experiment of the Mercury ESA mission BepiColombo that will be launched in 2014. The goals of the experiment are to determine the gravity field of Mercury and its rotation state, to determine the orbit of Mercury, to constrain the possible theories of gravitation (for example by determining the post-Newtonian (PN) parameters), to provide the spacecraft position for geodesy experiments and to contribute to planetary ephemerides improvement. This is possible thanks to a new technology which allows to reach great accuracies in the observables ran…
BepiColombo is a joint ESA/JAXA mission to Mercury with challenging objectives regarding geophysics, geodesy and fundamental physics. The Mercury Orbiter Radioscience Experiment (MORE) is one of the on-board experiments, including three different but linked experiments: gravimetry, rotation and relativity. The aim of the relativity experiment is the measurement of the post-Newtonian parameters. Thanks to accurate tracking between Earth and spacecraft, the results are expected to be very precise. However, the outcomes of the experiment strictly depends on our "knowledge" about solar system: eph…
We analytically calculate the time series for the perturbations $Δρ(t),~Δ\dotρ(t)$ induced by a general disturbing acceleration $\boldsymbol{A}$ on the mutual range $ρ$ and range-rate $\dotρ$ of two test particles $\textrm{A},~\textrm{B}$ orbiting the same spinning body. We apply it to the general relativistic Lense-Thirring effect, due to the primary's spin $\boldsymbol{S}$, and the classical perturbation arising from its quadrupole mass moment $J_2$ for arbitrary orbital geometries and orientation of the source's symmetry axis $\boldsymbol{\hat{S}}$. The Earth-Mercury range and range-rate ar…
We point out the existence of a new general relativistic contribution to the perihelion advance of Mercury that, while smaller than the contributions arising from the solar quadrupole moment and angular momentum, is 100 times larger than the second-post-Newtonian contribution. It arises in part from relativistic "cross-terms" in the post-Newtonian equations of motion between Mercury's interaction with the Sun and with the other planets, and in part from an interaction between Mercury's motion and the gravitomagnetic field of the moving planets. At a few parts in $10^6$ of the leading general r…
In a previous paper we derived a post-Newtonian approximation to cosmology which, in contrast to former Newtonian and post-Newtonian cosmological theories, has a well-posed initial value problem. In this paper, this new post-Newtonian theory is compared with the fully general relativistic theory, in the context of the k = 0 Friedmann Robertson Walker cosmologies. It is found that the post-Newtonian theory reproduces the results of its general relativistic counterpart, whilst the Newtonian theory does not.
With the post-Newtonian approxination, the energy of Schwarzschild spacetime in the Weinberg prescription is obtained. The energy for the first post-Newtonian approximation $E^{(1)} = m$ gives the Newtonian treatment of Schwarzschild spacetime. However, for the second post-Newtonian approximation, the erergy is shown that $E^{(1)}$ adds extra terms $E^{(2)}$ which consist of the energy stored in the configuration $E_{\rm config}$, in the gravitational field $E_{\rm field}$. and a term of surface integral. These extra terms gives post-Newtonian corrections to the Newtonian treatment.
The post-Newtonian hydrodynamic equations for a non-perfect fluid are developed within the framework of a post-Newtonian Boltzmann equation. The post-Newtonian components of the energy-momentum tensor are determined by considering the relativistic Eckart decomposition for a viscous and heat conducting fluid. From the relativistic Grad distribution function its post-Newtonian expression is derived. The hydrodynamic equations for the mass density, mass-energy density and momentum density are determined from a post-Newtonian transfer equation and Grad's distribution function. In the non-relativis…
The post-Newtonian Jeans equation for stationary self-gravitating systems is derived from the post-Newtonian Boltzmann equation in spherical coordinates. The Jeans equation is coupled with the three Poisson equations from the post-Newtonian theory. The Poisson equations are functions of the energy-momentum tensor components which are determined from the post-Newtonian Maxwell--Jüttner distribution function. As an application, the effect of a central massive black hole on the velocity dispersion profile of the host galaxy is investigated and the influence of the post-Newtonian corrections are d…
Jeans instability within the framework of post-Newtonian Boltzmann and Poisson equations are analyzed. The components of the energy-momentum tensor are calculated from a post-Newtonian Maxwell-Jüttner distribution function. The perturbations of the distribution function and gravitational potentials from their background states with the representation of the perturbations as plane waves lead to a dispersion relation with post-Newtonian corrections. The influence of the post-Newtonian approximation on the Jeans mass is determined and it was shown that the mass necessary for an overdensity to beg…
We estimate virial masses of galaxy clusters using the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) virial theorem. Also, we show explicitly that post-Newtonian corrections can not address the mass discrepancy in the galaxy clusters.
Post-Newtonian expansions of the Brill-Lindquist and Misner-Lindquist solutions of the time-symmetric two-black-hole initial value problem are derived. The static Hamiltonians related to the expanded solutions, after identifying the bare masses in both solutions, are found to differ from each other at the third post-Newtonian approximation. By shifting the position variables of the black holes the post-Newtonian expansions of the three metrics can be made to coincide up to the fifth post-Newtonian order resulting in identical static Hamiltonians up the third post-Newtonian approximation. The c…
We present an elementary derivation of the planetary advance of the perihelion for a general spherically symmetric line element in the post- newtonian approximation.
The second post-Newtonian hydrodynamic equations are analyzed within the framework of a plane wave solution. The hydrodynamic equations for the mass and momentum density are coupled with six Poisson equations for the Newtonian and post-Newtonian gravitational potentials. Perturbations of the basic fields and gravitational potentials from a background state by assuming plane wave representations lead to a dispersion relation where the Jeans instability condition emerges. The influence of the first and second post-Newtonian approximations on the Jeans mass is determined. It was shown that the re…
Contents: I. Introduction; II. Summary of optimal signal filtering; III. Newtonian binary polarization waveforms; IV. Newtonian orbital phase evolution; V. Post-Newtonian wave-generation; VI. Inspiral binary waveform.
We discuss various aspects of the post-Newtonian approximation in general relativity. After presenting the foundation based on the Newtonian limit, we use the (3+1) formalism to formulate the post-Newtonian approximation for the perfect fluid. As an application we show the method for constructing the equilibrium configuration of nonaxisymmetric uniformly rotating fluid. We also discuss the gravitational waves including tail from post-Newtonian systems.
It is shown that the recently found non-uniqueness of the third post-Newtonian binary point-mass ADM-Hamiltonian is related to the non-uniqueness at the third post-Newtonian approximation of the applied ADM-coordinate conditions.
In this paper we explore how far the post-Newtonian theory goes in overcoming the difficulties associated with anisotropic homogeneous cosmologies in the Newtonian approximation. It will be shown that, unlike in the Newtonian case, the cosmological equations of the post-Newtonian approximation are much more in the spirit of general relativity with regard to the nine Bianchi types and issues of singularities. The situations of vanishing rotation and vanishing shear are treated separately. The homogeneous Bianchi I model is considered as an example of a rotation-free cosmology with anisotropy. I…
We study a solution of the field equations for dilatonic gravity and obtain its post-post-newtonian limit. It turns out that terms to this and higher orders in the expansion may become important in strong gravitational fields, even though the post-newtonian limit coincides with that of General Relativity. This suggests that strong gravitational fields can only be studied by exact solutions of the field equations.
In 2002, Poujade and Blanchet succeeded in matching the post-Newtonian solution to the Einstein field equation to the post-Minkowskian field up to any arbitrary order as well as reproducing, in a different way, the results of the 1998 paper by Blanchet in which he showed how to match the post-Minkowskian series to the post-Newtonian expansion. Comparing these two papers, it might be asked whether it is possible to match the post-Newtonian field to the post-Minkowskian one by means of a method similar to the one used in the 1998 paper. The answer is affirmative, and in the present paper we prov…
The set up of matched filters for the detection of gravitational waves from in-spiraling compact binaries is usually carried out using the restricted post-Newtonian approximation: the filter phase is modelled including post-Newtonian corrections, whereas the amplitude is retained at the Newtonian order. Here we investigate the effects of the introduction of post-Newtonian corrections also to the amplitude and we discuss some of the implications for signal detection and parameter estimation.
We derive the equations of motion for binary systems of compact bodies in the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation to general relativity. Results are given through 2PN order (order (v/c)^4 beyond Newtonian theory), and for gravitational radiation reaction effects at 2.5PN and 3.5PN orders. The method is based on a framework for direct integration of the relaxed Einstein equations (DIRE) developed earlier, in which the equations of motion through 3.5PN order can be expressed in terms of Poisson-like potentials that are generalizations of the instantaneous Newtonian gravitational potential, and in …
Using post-Newtonian equations of motion for fluid bodies valid to the second post-Newtonian order, we derive the equations of motion for binary systems with finite-sized, non-spinning but arbitrarily shaped bodies. In particular we study the contributions of the internal structure of the bodies (such as self-gravity) that would diverge if the size of the bodies were to shrink to zero. Using a set of virial relations accurate to the first post-Newtonian order that reflect the stationarity of each body, and redefining the masses to include 1PN and 2PN self-gravity terms, we demonstrate the comp…
In this paper, second post-Newtonian approximation of Einstein-aether theory is obtained by Chandrasekhar's approach. Five parameterized post-Newtonian parameters in first post-Newtonian approximation are presented after a time transformation and they are identical with previous works, in which $γ=1$, $β=1$ and two preferred-frame parameters remain. Meanwhile, in second post-Newtonian approximation, a parameter, which represents third order nonlinearity for gravity, is zero the same as in general relativity. For an application for future deep space laser ranging missions, we reduce the metric …
The increasing sophistication and accuracy of numerical simulations of compact binaries (especially binary black holes) presents the opportunity to test the regime in which post-Newtonian (PN) predictions for the emitted gravitational waves are accurate. In order to confront numerical results with those of post-Newtonian theory, it is convenient to compare multipolar decompositions of the two waveforms. It is pointed out here that the individual modes can be computed to higher post-Newtonian order by examining the radiative multipole moments of the system, rather than by decomposing the 2.5PN …
The post-Newtonian approximation is useful to discuss gravitational waveforms for binary inspirals. In this note, for retrograde circular orbits in the equatorial plane, we discuss the region of validity of the post-Newtonian approximation by using the gravitational energy flux derived numerically and analytically in the black hole perturbation approach. It is found that the edge of the allowable region behaves quite intricately, including prograde orbits even if we treat higher post-Newtonian orders.
We investigated hydrodynamical post-Newtonian models of selfgravitating stationary black-hole-disk systems. The post-Newtonian scheme presented here and also in our recent paper is a continuation of previous, purely Newtonian studies of selfgravitating hydrodynamical disks rotating according to the Keplerian rotation law. The post-Newtonian relativistic corrections are significant even at the 1PN level. The 1PN correction to the angular velocity can be of the order of 10% of its Newtonian value. It can be expressed as a combination of geometric and hydrodynamical terms. Moreover, in contrast t…
Two long-standing problems with the post-Newtonian approximation for isolated slowly-moving systems in general relativity are: (i) the appearance at high post-Newtonian orders of divergent Poisson integrals, casting a doubt on the soundness of the post-Newtonian series; (ii) the domain of validity of the approximation which is limited to the near-zone of the source, and prevents one, a priori, from incorporating the condition of no-incoming radiation, to be imposed at past null infinity. In this article, we resolve the problem (i) by iterating the post-Newtonian hierarchy of equations by means…
We construct a set of post-Newtonian reference frames for a comprehensive study of the orbital dynamics and rotational motion of the Moon and Earth by means of lunar laser ranging (LLR) with the precision of one millimeter. We also derive the post-Newtonian coordinate transformations between the frames and analyze the residual gauge freedom, which is used for removing spurious post-Newtonian effects from the equations of motion of the solar system bodies.
Newtonian Cosmology is commonly used in astrophysical problems, because of its obvious simplicity when compared with general relativity. However it has inherent difficulties, the most obvious of which is the non-existence of a well-posed initial value problem. In this paper we investigate how far these problems are met by using the post-Newtonian approximation in cosmology.
We study the Jeans gravitational instability for a mixture of baryonic and dark matter particles, in the post-Newtonian approximation. We adopt a kinetic model consisting of a coupled system of post-Newtonian collisionless Boltzmann equations, for each species, coupled to the post-Newtonian Poisson equations. We derive the stability criterion, accounting for both post-Newtonian corrections and the presence of dark matter. It is shown that both effects give rise to smaller Jeans masses, in comparison with the standard Jeans criterion, meaning that a smaller mass is needed to begin the gravitati…
We use surface adapted ellipsoidal coordinates to obtain a first order post-Newtonian (PN) approximation to Dedekind ellipsoids with the intention of proceeding to higher orders.
The accuracy of the post-Newtonian waveforms, both in standard and Pade form, is determined by computing their matched-filtering overlap integral with a reference waveform obtained from black-hole perturbation theory.
The second-order post-Newtonian solution for the light propagation in the field of Kerr-Newman black hole is achieved via an iterative method. Based on this result, we further obtain the second-order post-Newtonian light deflection in Kerr-Newman spacetime, which is formulated in an united form for any arbitrarily incident directions. All results are exhibited in the coordinate system constituted by the initial light-direction vector, the impact vector, and their cross-product.
We present a method of post-Newtonian expansion to solve the homogeneous Regge-Wheeler equation which describes gravitational waves on the Schwarzschild spacetime. The advantage of our method is that it allows a systematic iterative analysis of the solution. Then we obtain the Regge-Wheeler function which is purely ingoing at the horizon in closed analytic form, with accuracy required to determine the gravitational wave luminosity to (post)$^{4}$-Newtonian order (i.e., order $v^8$ beyond Newtonian) from a particle orbiting around a Schwarzschild black hole. Our result, valid in the small-mass …
The objetive of this work is to investigate the influence of the corrections to the spherical symmetrical accretion of an infinity gas cloud characterized by a polytropic equation into a massive object due to the post-Newtonian approximation.The post-Newtonian corrections to the critical values of the flow velocity, sound velocity and radial distance are obtained from the system of hydrodynamics equations in spherical coordinates. The critical point in the post-Newtonian approximation accretion does not correspond to the transonic point like in Newtonian theory. An equation for the Mach number…
We present two of our efforts directed toward the numerical analysis of neutron star mergers, which are the most plausible sources for gravitational wave detectors that should begin operating in the near future. First we present Newtonian 3D simulations including radiation reaction (2.5PN) effects. We discuss the gravitational wave signals and luminosity from the merger with/without radiation reaction effects. Second we present the matching problem between post-Newtonian formulations and general relativity in numerical treatments. We prepare a spherical, static neutron star in a post-Newtonian…
Continuing our analytic computation of the first-order self-force contribution to Detweiler's redshift variable we provide the exact expressions of the ninth and ninth-and-a-half post-Newtonian terms.
We derive the post-Newtonian limit of a general class of teleparallel gravity theories, whose action is given by a free function of three scalar quantities obtained from the torsion of the teleparallel connection. This class of theories is chosen to be sufficiently generic in order to include the $f(T)$ class of theories as well as new general relativity as subclasses. To derive its post-Newtonian limit, we first impose the Weitzenböck gauge, and then introduce a post-Newtonian approximation of the tetrad field around a Minkowski background solution. Our results show that the class of theories…
In this paper, we develop an iterative scheme to enable the explicit calculation of an arbitrary post-Newtonian order for a relativistic body that reduces to the Maclaurin spheroid in the appropriate limit. This scheme allows for an analysis of the structure of the solution in the vicinity of bifurcation points along the Maclaurin sequence. The post-Newtonian expansion is solved explicitly to the fourth order and its accuracy and convergence are studied by comparing it to highly accurate numerical results.
Expression for second post-Newtonian level gravitational deflection angle of massive particles is obtained in a model independent framework. Several of its important implications including the possibility of testing gravitational theories at that level are discussed.
Regular and chaotic test particle motion in gravitational fields due to stellar bodies with quadrupolar and octupolar deformation are studied using Poincare surfaces of section. In first instance, we analyze the purely Newtonian case and we find that the octupolar term induces a distortion in the KAM curves corresponding to regular trajectories as well as an increase in chaoticity, even in the case corresponding to oblate deformation. Then we examine the effect of the first general relativistic corrections, provided by the post Newtonian approach. For typical values of the post Newtonian multi…
We introduce a new methodology for deriving the conservative dynamics of gravitationally interacting binary systems. Our approach combines, in a novel way, several theoretical formalisms: post-Newtonian, post-Minkowskian, multipolar-post-Minkowskian, gravitational self-force, and effective one-body. We apply our method to the derivation of the fifth post-Newtonian dynamics. By restricting our results to the third post-Minkowskian level, we give the first independent confirmation of the recent result of Bern {\it et al.} [Phys.\ Rev.\ Lett.\ {\bf 122}, 201603 (2019)]. We also offer checks for f…
We compute the hereditary part of the third post-Newtonian accurate gravitational energy radiation from hyperbolic scatterings (and parabolic scatterings) of non-spinning compact objects. We employ large angular momentum ($j$) expansion, and compute it to the relative $1/j^{11}$ order (so the first 12 terms). For parabolic scattering case, the exact solution is computed. At the end, the completely collected expression of the energy radiation upto the third post-Newtonian and from $1/j^{3}$ to $1/j^{15}$ order, is presented including the instantaneous contribution.
We extend the analytical determination of the main radial potential describing (within the effective one-body formalism) the gravitational interaction of two bodies beyond the 4th post-Newtonian approximation recently obtained by us. This extension is done to linear order in the mass ratio by applying analytical gravitational self-force theory (for a particle in circular orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole) to Detweiler's gauge-invariant redshift variable. By using the version of black hole perturbation theory developed by Mano, Suzuki and Takasugi, we have pushed the analytical determinat…
We complete the analytical determination, at the 4th post-Newtonian approximation, of the main radial potential describing the gravitational interaction of two bodies within the effective one-body formalism. The (non logarithmic) coefficient a_5 (nu) measuring this 4th post-Newtonian interaction potential is found to be linear in the symmetric mass ratio nu. Its nu-independent part a_5 (0) is obtained by an analytical gravitational self-force calculation that unambiguously resolves the formal infrared divergencies which currently impede its direct post-Newtonian calculation. Its nu-linear part…
Padé approximants to truncated post-Newtonian neutron star models are constructed. The Padé models converge faster to the general relativistic (GR) solution than the truncated post-Newtonian ones. The evolution of initial data using the Padé models approximates better the evolution of full GR initial data than the truncated Taylor models. In the absence of full GR initial data (e.g., for neutron star binaries or black hole binary systems), Padé initial data could be a better option than the straightforward truncated post-Newtonian (Taylor) initial data.
We compute the tail contributions to the gravitational-wave mode amplitudes for compact binaries in eccentric orbits at the third post-Newtonian order of general relativity. We combine them with the already available instantaneous pieces and include the post-adiabatic corrections required to fully account for the effects of radiation-reaction forces on the motion. We compare the resulting waveform in the small eccentricity limit to the circular one, finding perfect agreement.
We calculate the explicit equations of motion for non-spinning compact objects to 2.5 post-Newtonian order, or O(v/c)^5 beyond Newtonian gravity, in a general class of scalar-tensor theories of gravity. We use the formalism of the Direct Integration of the Relaxed Einstein Equations (DIRE), adapted to scalar-tensor theory, coupled with an approach pioneered by Eardley for incorporating the internal gravity of compact, self-gravitating bodies. For the conservative part of the motion, we obtain the two-body Lagrangian and conserved energy and momentum through second post-Newtonian order. We find…
With continuous advances in technology, future satellite gradiometry missions will be capable of performing precision relativistic experiments and imposing constraints on modern gravity theories. To this end, the full first-order post-Newtonian tidal tensor under inertially guided and Earth-pointing local frames along post-Newtonian orbits is worked out. The physical picture behind the "Mashhoon-Theiss anomaly" is explained at the post-Newtonian level. The relativistic precession of the local frame with respect to the sidereal frame will produce modulations of Newtonian tidal forces along cert…
Recent general-relativistic extensions of Newtonian rotation laws for self-gravitating stationary fluids allow one to rederive, in the first post-Newtonian approximation, the well known geometric dragging of frames, and two new weak-field effects within rotating tori. These are the recently discovered anti-dragging and a new effect that measures the deviation from the Keplerian motion and/or the contribution of the fluids selfgravity. They can be applied to the study of the existence of the (post-)Newtonian limits of solutions and in investigations of inequalities relating parameters of rotati…
Based on a recent paper by Rothe and Schäfer on compact binary systems, explicit expressions for canonical center and relative coordinates in terms of standard canonical coordinates are derived for spinless objects up to second post-Newtonian approximation of Einstein's theory of gravity. The inverse relations, i.e. the dependence of the standard canonical coordinates on the canonical center and relative coordinates, are also given up to the second post-Newtonian approximation. The famous Pythagorean-theorem-type Lorentz-invariant relation between the system's total energy or Hamiltonian squar…
In the continuation of a preceding work, we derive a new expression for the metric in the near zone of an isolated matter system in post-Newtonian approximations of general relativity. The post-Newtonian metric, a solution of the field equations in harmonic coordinates, is formally valid up to any order, and is cast in the form of a particular solution of the wave equation, plus a specific homogeneous solution which ensures the asymptotic matching to the multipolar expansion of the gravitational field in the exterior of the system. The new form provides some insights on the structure of the po…
The paper presents the conservative dynamics of two-body point-mass systems up to the third post-Newtonian order ($1/c^6$). The two-body dynamics is given in terms of a higher order ADM Hamilton function which results from a third post-Newtonian Routh functional for the total field-plus-matter system. The applied regularization procedures, together with making use of distributional differentiation of homogeneous functions, give unique results for the terms in the Hamilton function apart from the coefficient of the term $(νp_{i}{\pa_{i}})^2r^{-1}$. The result suggests an invalidation of the bin…
We develop a "hybrid approximative scheme" in the framework of the post-Newtonian approximation for computing general-relativistic polytropic models simulating neutron stars in critical rigid rotation. We treat the differential equations governing such a model as a "complex initial value problem", and we solve it by using the so-called "complex-plane strategy". We incorporate into the computations the complete solution for the relativistic effects, this issue representing a significant improvement with regard to the classical post-Newtonian approximation, as verified by extended comparisons of…
