Post-Newtonian spin and angular momentum of bounded systems

We generalize the newtonian expressions for the orbital angular momentum of a two-body system, and for the spin of each body, by introducing corresponding definitions in the post-Newtonian approximation of fully conservative theories of gravity. Using this definition of the spin and assuming that the bodies rotate rigidly and that the equations of motion are Hamiltonian, we show that in fully conservative theories of gravity the spin of each body undergoes a relativistic precession about the direction of the orbital angular momentum, as a consequence of the local equations of motion for a perfect fluid.Visiting scientist to the Max-Planck-Institut für Physik und Astrophysik. On leave of absence from the Astronomy Department, University of Thessaloniki, Greece.