The gravitational field in the wave zone I. The radiating terms of the metric tensor

We consider an asymptotically flat space-time generated by a perfect fluid source of compact spatial support. Using the de Donder gauge conditions, the Einstein equations are reduced to a new form of Poisson-type equations. A formal iterative scheme is set up to solve these equations by expanding the components of the metric tensor in powers ofc ^–1. The coefficient of each power ofc ^–1 depends on the asymptotically retarded timeu andx, y, z and satisfies a Poisson-type equation. Assuming asymptotic flatness the solution is carried out in the first orders. The results are explicit expressions of the metric up to orderc ^–4 in terms of the source functions. These expressions hold over all space-time. A further expansion in powers ofr ^–1 gives the first terms of the metric that contribute to gravitational radiation.