Extended gravitoelectromagnetism. II. Metric perturbation

Abstract

This article makes the connection between the new gravitoelectromagnetic theory presented in the part I paper and general gravity in its weak formulation. The perturbation in the metric tensor is obtained in terms of the flat-space total energy–momentum tensor given by the sum of the consistent fully relativistic fluid and gravitoelectromagnetic field contributions. Expressions for the perturbed metric in the internal (fluid) and external (vacuum) regions are given in terms of the fluid and field variables. This formulation of gravitoelectromagnetism is compatible with the formation of gravitational waves. The geodesic equation is obtained in both the internal and external regions, including new terms neglected in the standard gravitomagnetic formulation. It is shown that the new terms reproduce the anomalous shift of planetary precession, which results from a balance between the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic forces.