Extended Derdzinski-Shen theorem for the Riemann tensor

We extend a classical result by Derdzinski and Shen, on the restrictions imposed on the Riemann tensor by the existence of a nontrivial Codazzi tensor. The new conditions of the theorem include Codazzi tensors (i.e. closed 1-forms) as well as tensors with gauged Codazzi condition (i.e. "recurrent 1-forms"), typical of some well known differential structures.Comment: 5 page

An introduction to inflation after Planck: from theory to observations

These lecture notes have been written for a short introductory course on the status of inflation after Planck and BICEP2, given at the Xth Modave School of Mathematical Physics. The first objective is to give an overview of the theory of inflation: motivations, homogeneous scalar field dynamics, slow-roll approximation, linear theory of cosmological perturbations, classification of single field potentials and their observable predictions. This includes a pedagogical derivation of the primordial scalar and tensor power spectra for any effective single field potential. The second goal is to present the most recent results of Planck and BICEP2 and to discuss their implications for inflation. Bayesian statistical methods are introduced as a tool for model analysis and comparison. Based on the recent work of J. Martin et al., the best inflationary models after Planck and BICEP2 are presented. Finally a series of open questions and issues related to inflation are mentioned and briefly discussed.Comment: 39 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the proceedings of the Xth Modave School in Mathematical Physics. Important parts of those lecture notes draw from chapters 1 and 2 of the author's PhD thesis, arXiv:1109.557

E. Cartan's attempt at bridge-building between Einstein and the Cosserats -- or how translational curvature became to be known as {\em torsion}

\'Elie Cartan's "g\'en\'eralisation de la notion de courbure" (1922) arose from a creative evaluation of the geometrical structures underlying both, Einstein's theory of gravity and the Cosserat brothers generalized theory of elasticity. In both theories groups operating in the infinitesimal played a crucial role. To judge from his publications in 1922--24, Cartan developed his concept of generalized spaces with the dual context of general relativity and non-standard elasticity in mind. In this context it seemed natural to express the translational curvature of his new spaces by a rotational quantity (via a kind of Grassmann dualization). So Cartan called his translational curvature "torsion" and coupled it to a hypothetical rotational momentum of matter several years before spin was encountered in quantum mechanics.Comment: 36 p