Equations of Motion of Spinning Relativistic Particles

Abstract

The motion of spinning relativistic particles in external electromagnetic and gravitational fields is considered. Covariant equations for this motion are demonstrated to possess pathological solutions, when treated nonperturbatively in spin. A self-consistent approach to the problem is formulated, based on the noncovariant description of spin and on the usual, ``naive'' definition of the coordinate of a relativistic particle. A simple description of the gravitational interaction of first order in spin, is pointed out for a relativistic particle. The approach developed allows one to consider effects of higher order in spin. Explicit expression for the second-order Hamiltonian is presented. We discuss the gravimagnetic moment, which is a special spin effect in general relativity.