It is shown that different models for the symmetric, time-symmetric charged two-body problem of general relativity lead to different quantitative predictions. The models are constructed by solving the source-free initial-value equations on two- and three-sheeted manifolds. The tidal accelerations at the midpoint of the two-body system are shown to be different for these models after they are normalized for mass, charge, and electric dipole moment. This discrepancy vanishes with the charge, but the second derivatives of the Ricci curvature tensor still differ in the limit of vanishing charge.

• Received 2 March 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.25.2521