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11 - * The Petrov classication by the spinor method

from Part I - Elements of differential geometry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2024

Jerzy Plebanski
Affiliation:
National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico
Andrzej Krasinski
Affiliation:
Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences
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Summary

Spinors are defined, their basic properties and relation to tensors are derived. The spinor image of the Weyl tensor is derived and it is shown that it is symmetric in all four of its spinor indices. From this, the classification of Weyl tensors equivalent to Petrov’s (by the Penrose method) is derived. The equivalence of these two approaches is proved. The third (Debever’s) method of classification of Weyl tensors is derived, and its equivalence to those of Petrov and Penrose is demonstrated. Extended hints for verifying the calculations (moved to the exercises section) are provided.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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