The advantages of the analysis of the two-body problem from an initially static configuration are discussed. The stress which maintains the static equilibrium of two axially (but not spherically) symmetric bodies is removed, and the complementary phenomena of stress breaking and mass motion lead to a dynamic metric perturbation and radiation. The distinctions between the stress-breaking and free-fall phases of the motion are clearly delineated. A new contribution to the radiated energy which arises from the time variation of the tidal forces across the sources in the course of free fall is developed. A potentially very significant contribution from the nonlinearities is also discussed.

• Received 19 February 1974

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.10.3171