ACM

Communications of the ACM

Home/Magazine Archive/September 1978 (Vol. 21, No. 9)/An algorithm using symbolic techniques for the Bel.../Abstract

An algorithm using symbolic techniques for the Bel-Petrov classification of gravitational fields

By R. A. Harris, J. D. Zund
Communications of the ACM, September 1978, Vol. 21 No. 9, Pages 715-717
10.1145/359588.359592
Comments

View as: Print Mobile App ACM Digital Library Full Text (PDF) Share:

In this note, an algorithm is presented for the symbolic calculation of certain algebraic invariants of the Weyl tensor which permits the determination of the Bel-Petrov types of a gravitational field. This algorithm, although more specialized than that of D'Inverno and Russell-Clark, requires neither the use of a special coordinate system nor the spin coefficient formalism. The algorithm has been implemented in FORMAC and is designed to complete the classification scheme proposed by Petrov in his book. An appendix contains examples illustrating the use of the algorithm.

The full text of this article is premium content

No entries found

Log in to Read the Full Article

Sign In

Sign in using your ACM Web Account username and password to access premium content if you are an ACM member, Communications subscriber or Digital Library subscriber.

Need Access?

Please select one of the options below for access to premium content and features.

Create a Web Account

If you are already an ACM member, Communications subscriber, or Digital Library subscriber, please set up a web account to access premium content on this site.

Join the ACM

Become a member to take full advantage of ACM's outstanding computing information resources, networking opportunities, and other benefits.

Subscribe to Communications of the ACM Magazine

Get full access to 50+ years of CACM content and receive the print version of the magazine monthly.

Purchase the Article

Non-members can purchase this article or a copy of the magazine in which it appears.