Post-Newtonian gravitational radiation from orbiting point masses

Abstract

General formulas are derived which describe the gravitational radiation at large distances from a system of bodies whose sizes are small compared with their separations. The calculation is carried out through post-Newtonian order within general relativity. More explicit formulas are derived for two-body systems, and detailed results are presented for circular orbits, gravitational bremsstrahlung, and head-on collisions.