Weyl Tensor
The Weyl Tensor is a mathematical object in the field of differential geometry, specifically in the study of Riemannian geometry. It describes the conformal curvature of a space, which means it captures the intrinsic curvature that remains unchanged under angle-preserving transformations. This tensor is essential in understanding the geometric properties of spacetime in the theory of general relativity.
In a four-dimensional spacetime, the Weyl Tensor can be derived from the Riemann Curvature Tensor by removing the effects of local curvature caused by mass and energy. It helps to identify the gravitational field's influence on the shape of light paths and is crucial for analyzing the structure of black holes and cosmological models.