Bel–Robinson tensor

In general relativity and differential geometry, the Bel–Robinson tensor is a tensor defined in the abstract index notation by:

Alternatively,

where is the Weyl tensor. It was introduced by Lluís Bel in 1959.[1][2] The Bel–Robinson tensor is constructed from the Weyl tensor in a manner analogous to the way the electromagnetic stress–energy tensor is built from the electromagnetic tensor. Like the electromagnetic stress–energy tensor, the Bel–Robinson tensor is totally symmetric and traceless:

In general relativity, there is no unique definition of the local energy of the gravitational field. The Bel–Robinson tensor is a possible definition for local energy, since it can be shown that whenever the Ricci tensor vanishes (i.e. in vacuum), the Bel–Robinson tensor is divergence-free:

References

  1. Bel, L. (1959), "Introduction d'un tenseur du quatrième ordre", Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences, 248: 1297
  2. Senovilla, J. M. M. (2000), "Editor's Note: Radiation States and the Problem of Energy in General Relativity by Louis Bel", General Relativity and Gravitation, 32: 2043, doi:10.1023/A:1001906821162


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