An interpretation of the Kerr metric in general relativity

Abstract

The preceding paper ((1)) dealt with some general properties of the gravitational field of a rotating fluid mass. An interesting example of a vacuum solution that might be the exterior field of some rotating body was recently found by Kerr ((4)). It was natural to apply the preceding theory to the Kerr solution. This paper deals with other aspects of that solution, particularly the behaviour of its bounded geodesics (planetary orbits). It would seem desirable to know what sort of rotating body could be a source of the Kerr field. It will appear that one of the parameters in Kerr's solution can plausibly be related to the angular momentum per unit mass of a uniformly rotating sphere, the other parameter being a measure of the mass of the sphere.