Binary black-hole problem at the third post-Newtonian approximation in the orbital motion: Static part

Abstract

Post-Newtonian expansions of the Brill-Lindquist and Misner-Lindquist solutions of the time-symmetric two-black-hole initial value problem are derived. The static Hamiltonians related to the expanded solutions, after identifying the bare masses in both solutions, are found to differ from each other at the third post-Newtonian approximation. By shifting the position variables of the black holes the post-Newtonian expansions of the three metrics can be made to coincide up to the fifth post-Newtonian order resulting in identical static Hamiltonians up the third post-Newtonian approximation. The calculations shed light on previously performed binary point-mass calculations at the third post-Newtonian approximation.