A Killing tensor, named after Wilhelm Killing, is a symmetric tensor, known in the theory of general relativity, that satisfies
where the parentheses on the indices refer to the symmetric part.
This is a generalization of a Killing vector. While Killing vectors are associated with continuous symmetries (more precisely, differentiable), and hence very common, the concept of Killing tensor arises much less frequently. The Kerr solution is the most famous example of a manifold possessing a Killing tensor.
Famous quotes containing the word killing:
“Of course, killing you is killing myself. It’s the same thing. But, you know, I’m pretty tired of both of us.”
—Orson Welles (1915–1985)