The gravitational field in the wave zone. III: Elimination of the gauge condition (Q1118841)

[For parts I and II, cf. ibid. 19, 847-870 and 871-886 (1987; Zbl 0623.53037, Zbl 0623.53038.] The gravitational field of a bounded source is studied as a formal series expansion of powers of \(c^{-1}\) without the use of a gauge condition. The conditions imposed on the metric by the asymptotic flatness and some mathematical properties of the field equations at each step of the expansion are proved to be sufficient for the unique determination of those combinations of the metric components that describe the emission of gravitational radiation.