Related papers: Unique characterization of the Bel-Robinson tensor
We study Rainich-like conditions for symmetric and trace-free tensors T. For arbitrary even rank we find a necessary and sufficient differential condition for a tensor to satisfy the source free field equation. For rank 4, in a generic…
The Bel-Robinson tensor is analyzed as a linear map on the space of the traceless symmetric tensors. This study leads to an algebraic classification that refines the usual Petrov-Bel classification of the Weyl tensor. The new classes…
Algebraic conditions on the Ricci tensor in the Rainich-Misner-Wheeler unified field theory are known as the Rainich conditions. Penrose and more recently Bergqvist and Lankinen made an analogy from the Ricci tensor to the Bel-Robinson…
It is known that some results for spinors, and in particular for superenergy spinors, are much less transparent and require a lot more effort to establish, when considered from the tensor viewpoint. In this paper we demonstrate how the use…
In an n dimensional vector space, any tensor which is antisymmetric in k>n arguments must vanish; this is a trivial consequence of the limited number of dimensions. However, when other possible properties of tensors, for example…
The algebraic study of the Bel-Robinson tensor proposed and initiated in a previous work (Gen. Relativ. Gravit. {\bf 41}, see ref [11]) is achieved. The canonical form of the different algebraic types is obtained in terms of Bel-Robinson…
A four-index tensor is constructed with terms both quadratic in the Riemann tensor and linear in its second derivatives, which has zero divergence for space-times with vanishing scalar curvature. This tensor reduces in vacuum to the…
A rank-n tensor on a Lorentzian manifold V whose contraction with n arbitrary causal future directed vectors is non-negative is said to have the dominant property. These tensors, up to sign, are called causal tensors, and we determine their…
Conformally recurrent pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of dimension n>4 are investigated. The Weyl tensor is represented as a Kulkarni-Nomizu product. If the square of the Weyl tensor is nonzero, a covariantly constant symmetric tensor is…
A symmetric tensor is a higher order generalization of a symmetric matrix. In this paper, we study various properties of symmetric tensors in relation to a decomposition into a sum of symmetric outer product of vectors. A rank-1 order-k…
The algebraic classification of the Weyl tensor in arbitrary dimension n is recovered by means of the principal directions of its "superenergy" tensor. This point of view can be helpful in order to compute the Weyl aligned null directions…
In Lorentzian manifolds of any dimension the concept of causal tensors is introduced. Causal tensors have positivity properties analogous to the so-called ``dominant energy condition''. Further, it is shown how to build, from ANY given…
The classical Rainich(-Misner-Wheeler) theory gives necessary and sufficient conditions on an energy-momentum tensor $T$ to be that of a Maxwell field (a 2-form) in four dimensions. Via Einstein's equations these conditions can be expressed…
Two essential properties of energy-momentum tensors T_{\mu\nu} are their positivity and conservation. This is mathematically formalized by, respectively, an energy condition, as the dominant energy condition, and the vanishing of their…
The Chevreton superenergy tensor was introduced in 1964 as a counterpart, for electromagnetic fields, of the well-known Bel-Robinson tensor of the gravitational field. We here prove the unnoticed facts that, in the absence of…
The Bel-Robinson tensor $T_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$ was proposed in 1958. The main application of this tensor is for describing gravitational energy. It is known that $T_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$ has many nice properties such as being completely…
The traceless Ricci tensor $C_{ab}$ in 4-dimensional pseudo-Riemannian spaces equipped with the metric of the neutral signature is analyzed. Its algebraic classification is given. This classification uses the properties of $C_{ab}$ treated…
A set of new tensors of purely geometric origin have been investigated, which form a hierarchy. A tensor of a lower rank plays the role of the potential for the tensor of one rank higher. The tensors have interesting mathematical and…
Describing the gravitational energy and momentum, the Bel-Robinson tensor is the best tensor. However, the classical pseudotensors can also manage the the same job. As Deser mentioned in 1999, a certain linear combination between Einstein…
A purely algebraic construction of super-energy tensors for arbitrary fields is presented in any dimensions. These tensors have good mathematical and physical properties, and they can be used in any theory having as basic arena an…