Spherical gravitational waves

Abstract

The field of gravitational radiation emitted from two moving particles is investigated by means of general relativity. A method of approximation is used, and in the linear approximation retarded potentials corresponding to spherical gravitational waves are introduced. As is already known, the theory in this approximation predicts that energy is lost by the system. The field equations in the second, non-linear, approximation are then considered, and it is shown that the system loses an amount of gravitational mass precisely equal to the energy carried away by the spherical waves of the linear approximation. The result is established for a large class of particle motions, but it has not been possible to determine whether energy is lost in free gravitational motion under no external forces. The main conclusion of this work is that, contrary to opinions frequently expressed, gravitational radiation has a real physical existence, and in particular, carries energy away from the sources.