Gravitational Magnus effect

Understand

It is well known that a spinning body moving in a fluid suffers a force orthogonal to its velocity and rotation axis --- it is called the Magnus effect.

• Recent simulations of spinning black holes and (indirect) theoretical predictions, suggest that a somewhat analogous effect may occur for purely gravitational phenomena.
• The magnitude and precise direction of this "gravitational Magnus effect" is still the subject of debate.
• Starting from the rigorous equations of motion for spinning bodies in General Relativity (Mathisson-Papapetrou equations), we show that indeed such an effect takes place and is a fundamental part of the spin-curvature force.