Introduction to gravitational self-force

Abstract

The motion of a sufficiently small body in general relativity should be accurately described by a geodesic. However, there should be "gravitational self-force" corrections to geodesic motion, analogous to the "radiation reaction forces" that occur in electrodynamics. It is of considerable importance to be able to calculate these self-force corrections in order to be able to determine such effects as inspiral motion in the extreme mass ratio limit. However, severe difficulties arise if one attempts to consider point particles in the context of general relativity. This article describes these difficulties and how they have been dealt with. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.