Classical pseudotenors and positivity in small regions

Abstract

We have studied the famous classical pseudotensors in the small region limit, both inside matter and in vacuum. A recent work [Deser et al.1999 CQG 16, 2815] had found one combination of the Einstein and Landau-Lifshitz expressions which yields the Bel-Robinson tensor in vacuum. Using similar methods we found another independent combination of the Bergmann-Thomson, Papapetrou and Weinberg pseudotensors with the same desired property. Moreover we have constructed an infinite number of additional new holonomic pseudotensors satisfying this important positive energy requirement, all seem quite artificial. On the other hand we found that Moller's 1961 tetrad-teleparallel energy-momentum expression naturally has this Bel-Robinson property.