Dynamics of quadrupolar bodies in a Schwarzschild spacetime

Abstract

The dynamics of extended bodies endowed with multipolar structure up to the mass quadrupole moment is investigated in the Schwarzschild background according to Dixon's model, extending previous works. The whole set of evolution equations is numerically integrated under the simplifying assumptions of constant frame components of the quadrupole tensor and that the motion of the center of mass be confined on the equatorial plane, the spin vector being orthogonal to it. The equations of motion are also solved analytically in the limit of small values of the characteristic length scales associated with the spin and quadrupole with respect to the background curvature characteristic length. The results are qualitatively and quantitatively different from previous analyses involving only spin structures. In particular, the presence of the quadrupole turns out to be responsible for the onset of a nonzero spin angular momentum, even if initially absent.