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Dimensionally dependent divergences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

Gregory W. Horndeski
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

It is well known that in an even dimensional Riemannian space there always exists a particular scalar density which is such that its associated Euler–Lagrange tensor vanishes identically. In this note we show that each of these scalar densities can be expressed as the ordinary divergence of a contravariant vector density. Furthermore, there exists an entire class of contravariant vector densities which enjoy this property. These results are discussed with particular reference to the general theory of relativity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Philosophical Society 1972

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References

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