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:
“Every great love brings with it the cruel idea of killing the object of its love so that it may be removed once and for all from the wicked game of change: for love dreads change even more than annihilation.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)