Superenergy tensors and their applications

Abstract

In Lorentzian manifolds of any dimension the concept of causal tensors is introduced. Causal tensors have positivity properties analogous to the so-called ``dominant energy condition''. Further, it is shown how to build, from ANY given tensor $A$, a new tensor quadratic in $A$ and ``positive'', in the sense that it is causal. These tensors are called superenergy tensors due to historical reasons because they generalize the classical energy-momentum and Bel-Robinson constructions. Superenergy tensors are basically unique and with multiple and diverse physical and mathematical applications, such as: a) definition of new divergence-free currents, b) conservation laws in propagation of discontinuities of fields, c) the causal propagation of fields, d) null-cone preserving maps, e) generalized Rainich-like conditions, f) causal relations and transformations, and g) generalized symmetries. Among many others.