Obtaining the Weyl tensor from the Bel-Robinson tensor

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 eigen-tensors. An algorithmic determination of the Weyl tensor from the Bel-Robinson tensor is presented.Comment: 21 page

Vacuum type I spacetimes and aligned Papapetrou fields: symmetries

We analyze type I vacuum solutions admitting an isometry whose Killing 2--form is aligned with a principal bivector of the Weyl tensor, and we show that these solutions belong to a family of type I metrics which admit a group $G_3$ of isometries. We give a classification of this family and we study the Bianchi type for each class. The classes compatible with an aligned Killing 2--form are also determined. The Szekeres-Brans theorem is extended to non vacuum spacetimes with vanishing Cotton tensor.Comment: 19 pages; a reference adde

An intrinsic characterization of 2+2 warped spacetimes

We give several equivalent conditions that characterize the 2+2 warped spacetimes: imposing the existence of a Killing-Yano tensor $A$ subject to complementary algebraic restrictions; in terms of the projector $v$ (or of the canonical 2-form $U$) associated with the 2-planes of the warped product. These planes are principal planes of the Weyl and/or Ricci tensors and can be explicitly obtained from them. Therefore, we obtain the necessary and sufficient (local) conditions for a metric tensor to be a 2+2 warped product. These conditions exclusively involve explicit concomitants of the Riemann tensor. We present a similar analysis for the conformally 2+2 product spacetimes and give an invariant classification of them. The warped products correspond to two of these invariant classes. The more degenerate class is the set of product metrics which are also studied from an invariant point of view.Comment: 18 pages; submitted to Class. Quantum Grav

Rainich theory for type D aligned Einstein-Maxwell solutions

The original Rainich theory for the non-null Einstein-Maxwell solutions consists of a set of algebraic conditions and the Rainich (differential) equation. We show here that the subclass of type D aligned solutions can be characterized just by algebraic restrictions.Comment: 12 pages; v2: appendix with notatio

Forward-backward equations for nonlinear propagation in axially-invariant optical systems

We present a novel general framework to deal with forward and backward components of the electromagnetic field in axially-invariant nonlinear optical systems, which include those having any type of linear or nonlinear transverse inhomogeneities. With a minimum amount of approximations, we obtain a system of two first-order equations for forward and backward components explicitly showing the nonlinear couplings among them. The modal approach used allows for an effective reduction of the dimensionality of the original problem from 3+1 (three spatial dimensions plus one time dimension) to 1+1 (one spatial dimension plus one frequency dimension). The new equations can be written in a spinor Dirac-like form, out of which conserved quantities can be calculated in an elegant manner. Finally, these new equations inherently incorporate spatio-temporal couplings, so that they can be easily particularized to deal with purely temporal or purely spatial effects. Nonlinear forward pulse propagation and non-paraxial evolution of spatial structures are analyzed as examples.Comment: 11 page

On the classification of type D spacetimes

We give a classification of the type D spacetimes based on the invariant differential properties of the Weyl principal structure. Our classification is established using tensorial invariants of the Weyl tensor and, consequently, besides its intrinsic nature, it is valid for the whole set of the type D metrics and it applies on both, vacuum and non-vacuum solutions. We consider the Cotton-zero type D metrics and we study the classes that are compatible with this condition. The subfamily of spacetimes with constant argument of the Weyl eigenvalue is analyzed in more detail by offering a canonical expression for the metric tensor and by giving a generalization of some results about the non-existence of purely magnetic solutions. The usefulness of these results is illustrated in characterizing and classifying a family of Einstein-Maxwell solutions. Our approach permits us to give intrinsic and explicit conditions that label every metric, obtaining in this way an operational algorithm to detect them. In particular a characterization of the Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m metric is accomplished.Comment: 29 pages, 0 figure

What can Simbol-X do for gamma-ray binaries?

Gamma-ray binaries have been uncovered as a new class of Galactic objects in the very high energy sky (> 100 GeV). The three systems known today have hard X-ray spectra (photon index ~ 1.5), extended radio emission and a high luminosity in gamma-rays. Recent monitoring campaigns of LSI +61 303 in X-rays have confirmed variability in these systems and revealed a spectral hardening with increasing flux. In a generic one-zone leptonic model, the cooling of relativistic electrons accounts for the main spectral and temporal features observed at high energy. Persistent hard X-ray emission is expected to extend well beyond 10 keV. We explain how Simbol-X will constrain the existing models in connection with Fermi Space Telescope measurements. Because of its unprecedented sensitivity in hard X-rays, Simbol-X will also play a role in the discovery of new gamma-ray binaries, giving new insights into the evolution of compact binaries.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Proceedings of the 2nd International Simbol-X symposium held in Paris, 2-5 December 200

Simbol-X Background Minimization: Mirror Spacecraft Passive Shielding Trade-Off Study

The present work shows a quantitative trade-off analysis of the Simbol-X Mirror Spacecraft (MSC) passive shielding, in the phase space of the various parameters: mass budget, dimension, geometry, and composition. A simplified physical (and geometrical) model of the sky screen, implemented by means of a GEANT4 simulation, has been developed to perform a performance-driven mass optimization and evaluate the residual background level on Simbol-X focal plane.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the second Simbol-X International Symposium "Simbol-X - Focusing on the Hard X-ray Universe", AIP Conf. Proc. Series, P. Ferrando and J. Rodriguez ed

High Momentum Probes of Nuclear Matter

We discuss how the chemical composition of QCD jets is altered by final state interactions in surrounding nuclear matter. We describe this process through conversions of leading jet particles. We find that conversions lead to an enhancement of kaons at high transverse momentum in Au+Au collisions at RHIC, while their azimuthal asymmetry v_2 is suppressed.Comment: Contribution to the 4th international workshop High-pT physics at LHC 09, Prague; 6 pages, 6 figure