Multipole structure of static continuous matter distributions in general relativity

A mass skeleton is defined for a static extended body in a gravitational field. It is a scalar-valued distribution on a tangent space, and is equivalent to that part of the reduced multipole moment structure which describes the mass density of the body. An explicit form is given for this distribution in terms of the mass density and the scalar potential of the field. It is deduced that the mass skeleton and the scalar potential are not completely independent. The smoothness of the mass distribution imposes certain weak restrictions on those scalar potentials which are compatible with a given mass skeleton.Dedicated to Achille Papapetrou on the occasion of his retirement.