Spinning test particles in a Kerr field - I

Mathisson-Papapetrou equations are solved numerically to obtain trajectorie s of spinning test particles in (the meridional section of) the Kerr space- time. The supplementary conditions p(sigma)(S mu sigma) = 0 are used to clo se the system of equations. The results show that in principle a spin-curva ture interaction may lead to considerable deviations from geodesic motion, although in astrophysical situations of interest probably no large spin eff ects can be expected for values of spin consistent with a pole-dipole test- particle approximation. However, a significant cumulative effect may occur, e.g. in the inspiral of a spinning particle on to a rotating compact body, that would modify gravitational waves generated by such a system. A thorou gh literature review is included in the paper.