Abstract
We present an action principle formulation for the study of the motion of an extended body in general relativity in the limit of a weak gravitational field. This gives the classical equations of motion for multipole moments of arbitrary order coupling to the gravitational field. In particular, a new force due to the octupole moment is obtained. The action also yields the gravitationally induced phase shifts in quantum interference experiments due to the coupling of all multipole moments.
- Received 23 January 2003
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.68.124014
©2003 American Physical Society