Equations of Motion of Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordstrom and Kerr Particles

Abstract

A technique for extracting from the appropriate field equations the relativistic motion of Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordstrom and Kerr particles moving in external fields is motivated and illustrated. The key assumptions are that (a) the particles are isolated and (b) near the particles the wave fronts of the radiation generated by their motion are smoothly deformed spheres. No divergent integrals arise in this approach. The particles are not test particles. The formalism is used, however, to derive the Mathisson-Papapetrou equations of motion of spinning test particles, neglecting spin-spin terms.