New Results of the Post-Newtonian Rotation Problem

Klioner S. A.

Institute of Applied Astronomy, 197042 St.Petersburg, Russia

The rotational motion of extended bodies in general relativity is a complicated problem which has no complete solution up to now. However, the modern observational accuracy of the geodynamical observations makes it necessary to have a rigorous relativistic model of Earth's rotation.

We present some recent results on the subject enabling one to define rigorously the post-Newtonian tensor of inertia, Tisserand-like axes and the angular velocity of rotation of an extended body moving and rotating in external gravitational fields. We also discuss the implications of general relativity on modeling of the rotational motion of the Earth.