Unique characterization of the Bel-Robinson tensor

We prove that a completely symmetric and trace-free rank-4 tensor is, up to sign, a Bel-Robinson type tensor, i.e., the superenergy tensor of a tensor with the same algebraic symmetries as the Weyl tensor, if and only if it satisfies a certain quadratic identity. This may be seen as the first Rainich theory result for rank-4 tensors.Comment: extended version, 13 pages, shorter version published in Class.Quant.Gra

Algebraic Rainich theory and antisymmetrisation in higher dimensions

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 in terms of the Ricci tensor, thus providing conditions on a spacetime geometry for it to be an Einstein-Maxwell spacetime. One of the conditions is that $T^2$ is proportional to the metric, and it has previously been shown in arbitrary dimension that any tensor satisfying this condition is a superenergy tensor of a simple $p$-form. Here we examine algebraic Rainich conditions for general $p$-forms in higher dimensions and their relations to identities by antisymmetrisation. Using antisymmetrisation techniques we find new identities for superenergy tensors of these general (non-simple) forms, and we also prove in some cases the converse; that the identities are sufficient to determine the form. As an example we obtain the complete generalisation of the classical Rainich theory to five dimensions.Comment: 16 pages, LaTe

Two dimensional Sen connections and quasi-local energy-momentum

The recently constructed two dimensional Sen connection is applied in the problem of quasi-local energy-momentum in general relativity. First it is shown that, because of one of the two 2 dimensional Sen--Witten identities, Penrose's quasi-local charge integral can be expressed as a Nester--Witten integral.Then, to find the appropriate spinor propagation laws to the Nester--Witten integral, all the possible first order linear differential operators that can be constructed only from the irreducible chiral parts of the Sen operator alone are determined and examined. It is only the holomorphy or anti-holomorphy operator that can define acceptable propagation laws. The 2 dimensional Sen connection thus naturally defines a quasi-local energy-momentum, which is precisely that of Dougan and Mason. Then provided the dominant energy condition holds and the 2-sphere S is convex we show that the next statements are equivalent: i. the quasi-local mass (energy-momentum) associated with S is zero; ii.the Cauchy development $D(\Sigma)$ is a pp-wave geometry with pure radiation ($D(\Sigma)$ is flat), where $\Sigma$ is a spacelike hypersurface whose boundary is S; iii. there exist a Sen--constant spinor field (two spinor fields) on S. Thus the pp-wave Cauchy developments can be characterized by the geometry of a two rather than a three dimensional submanifold.Comment: 20 pages, Plain Tex, I

Algebraic Rainich conditions for the tensor V

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 tensor $B_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$, a certain fourth rank tensor quadratic in the Weyl curvature, which also satisfies algebraic Rainich-like conditions. However, we found that not only does the tensor $B_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$ fulfill these conditions, but so also does our recently proposed tensor $V_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$, which has many of the desirable properties of $B_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$. For the quasilocal small sphere limit restriction, we found that there are only two fourth rank tensors $B_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$ and $V_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$ which form a basis for good energy expressions. Both of them have the completely trace free and causal properties, these two form necessary and sufficient conditions. Surprisingly either completely traceless or causal is enough to fulfill the algebraic Rainich conditions. Furthermore, relaxing the quasilocal restriction and considering the general fourth rank tensor, we found two remarkable results: (i) without any symmetry requirement, the algebraic Rainich conditions only require totally trace free; (ii) with a symmetry requirement, we recovered the same result as in the quasilocal small sphere limit.Comment: 17 page

Conserved Matter Superenergy Currents for Orthogonally Transitive Abelian G2 Isometry Groups

In a previous paper we showed that the electromagnetic superenergy tensor, the Chevreton tensor, gives rise to a conserved current when there is a hypersurface orthogonal Killing vector present. In addition, the current is proportional to the Killing vector. The aim of this paper is to extend this result to the case when we have a two-parameter Abelian isometry group that acts orthogonally transitive on non-null surfaces. It is shown that for four-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell theory with a source-free electromagnetic field, the corresponding superenergy currents lie in the orbits of the group and are conserved. A similar result is also shown to hold for the trace of the Chevreton tensor and for the Bach tensor, and also in Einstein-Klein-Gordon theory for the superenergy of the scalar field. This links up well with the fact that the Bel tensor has these properties and the possibility of constructing conserved mixed currents between the gravitational field and the matter fields.Comment: 15 page

Quasi-local mass in the covariant Newtonian space-time

In general relativity, quasi-local energy-momentum expressions have been constructed from various formulae. However, Newtonian theory of gravity gives a well known and an unique quasi-local mass expression (surface integration). Since geometrical formulation of Newtonian gravity has been established in the covariant Newtonian space-time, it provides a covariant approximation from relativistic to Newtonian theories. By using this approximation, we calculate Komar integral, Brown-York quasi-local energy and Dougan-Mason quasi-local mass in the covariant Newtonian space-time. It turns out that Komar integral naturally gives the Newtonian quasi-local mass expression, however, further conditions (spherical symmetry) need to be made for Brown-York and Dougan-Mason expressions.Comment: Submit to Class. Quantum Gra

Two dimensional Sen connections in general relativity

The two dimensional version of the Sen connection for spinors and tensors on spacelike 2-surfaces is constructed. A complex metric $\gamma_{AB}$ on the spin spaces is found which characterizes both the algebraic and extrinsic geometrical properties of the 2-surface $\$$. The curvature of the two dimensional Sen operator $\Delta_e$ is the pull back to $\$$ of the anti-self-dual part of the spacetime curvature while its `torsion' is a boost gauge invariant expression of the extrinsic curvatures of $\$$. The difference of the 2 dimensional Sen and the induced spin connections is the anti-self-dual part of the `torsion'. The irreducible parts of $\Delta_e$ are shown to be the familiar 2-surface twistor and the Weyl--Sen--Witten operators. Two Sen--Witten type identities are derived, the first is an identity between the 2 dimensional twistor and the Weyl--Sen--Witten operators and the integrand of Penrose's charge integral, while the second contains the `torsion' as well. For spinor fields satisfying the 2-surface twistor equation the first reduces to Tod's formula for the kinematical twistor.Comment: 14 pages, Plain Tex, no report numbe

Dynamical laws of superenergy in General Relativity

The Bel and Bel-Robinson tensors were introduced nearly fifty years ago in an attempt to generalize to gravitation the energy-momentum tensor of electromagnetism. This generalization was successful from the mathematical point of view because these tensors share mathematical properties which are remarkably similar to those of the energy-momentum tensor of electromagnetism. However, the physical role of these tensors in General Relativity has remained obscure and no interpretation has achieved wide acceptance. In principle, they cannot represent {\em energy} and the term {\em superenergy} has been coined for the hypothetical physical magnitude lying behind them. In this work we try to shed light on the true physical meaning of {\em superenergy} by following the same procedure which enables us to give an interpretation of the electromagnetic energy. This procedure consists in performing an orthogonal splitting of the Bel and Bel-Robinson tensors and analysing the different parts resulting from the splitting. In the electromagnetic case such splitting gives rise to the electromagnetic {\em energy density}, the Poynting vector and the electromagnetic stress tensor, each of them having a precise physical interpretation which is deduced from the {\em dynamical laws} of electromagnetism (Poynting theorem). The full orthogonal splitting of the Bel and Bel-Robinson tensors is more complex but, as expected, similarities with electromagnetism are present. Also the covariant divergence of the Bel tensor is analogous to the covariant divergence of the electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor and the orthogonal splitting of the former is found. The ensuing {\em equations} are to the superenergy what the Poynting theorem is to electromagnetism. See paper for full abstract.Comment: 27 pages, no figures. Typos corrected, section 9 suppressed and more acknowledgments added. To appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit