Complete set of quasi-conserved quantities for spinning particles around Kerr

We revisit the conserved quantities of the Mathisson-Papapetrou-Tulczyjew equations describing the motion of spinning particles on a fixed background. Assuming Ricci-flatness and the existence of a Killing-Yano tensor, we demonstrate that besides the two non-trivial quasi-conserved quantities, i.e. conserved at linear order in the spin, found by Rüdiger, non-trivial quasi-conserved quantities are in one-to-one correspondence with non-trivial mixed-symmetry Killing tensors. We prove that no such stationary and axisymmetric mixed-symmetry Killing tensor exists on the Kerr geometry. We discuss the implications for the motion of spinning particles on Kerr spacetime where the quasi-constants of motion are shown not to be in complete involution.

Separability in consistent truncations

The separability of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation has a well-known connection to the existence of Killing vectors and rank-two Killing tensors. This paper combines this connection with the detailed knowledge of the compactification metrics of consistent truncations on spheres. The fact that both the inverse metric of such compactifications, as well as the rank-two Killing tensors can be written in terms of bilinears of Killing vectors on the underlying “round metric,” enables us to perform a detailed analyses of the separability of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for consistent truncations. We introduce the idea of a separating isometry and show that when a consistent truncation, without reduction gauge vectors, has such an isometry, then the Hamilton-Jacobi equation is always separable. When gauge vectors are present, the gauge group is required to be an abelian subgroup of the separating isometry to not impede separability. We classify the separating isometries for consistent truncations on spheres, Sn, for n = 2, …, 7, and exhibit all the corresponding Killing tensors. These results may be of practical use in both identifying when supergravity solutions belong to consistent truncations and generating separable solutions amenable to scalar probe calculations. Finally, while our primary focus is the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, we also make some remarks about separability of the wave equation.

Low valence Killing spinors in Gödel's Universe

Killing tensors have been of interest historically primarily for generating first integrals for the geodesic equation and for their use in finding separable coordinate systems. A related notion, that of Killing spinors, has recently been shown to be important in the study of generalized symmetries of Maxwell's equations. In a given spacetime, the generalized symmetries depend on the existence of Killing spinors of the spacetime of certain valences. The existence of Killing spinors for the curved metric of Gödel's Universe is investigated. There are five (1,1) Killing spinors, 14 (2,2) and five (1,5) Killing spinors of the spacetime, in addition to the unique (0,2) and (0,4) Killing spinors which are exhibited here as well.