Self-force via a Green's function decomposition

Abstract

The gravitational field of a particle of small mass μmoving through curved spacetime is naturally decomposed into two parts each of which satisfies the perturbed Einstein equations through O(μ). One part is an inhomogeneous field which, near the particle, looks like the μ/r field distorted by the local Riemann tensor; it does not depend on the behavior of the source in either the infinite past or future. The other part is a homogeneous field and includes the ``tail term''; it completely determines the self force effects of the particle interacting with its own gravitational field, including radiation reaction. Self force effects for scalar, electromagnetic and gravitational fields are all described in this manner.