A Note on Matter Superenergy Tensors

Abstract

We consider Bel-Robinson-like higher derivative conserved two-index tensors $H_\mn$ in simple matter models, following a recently suggested Maxwell field version. In flat space, we show that they are essentially equivalent to the true stress-tensors. In curved Ricci-flat backgrounds it is possible to redefine $H_\mn$ so as to overcome non-commutativity of covariant derivatives, and maintain conservation, but they become model- and dimension- dependent, and generally lose their simple "BR" form.