Abstract. A short presentation of the gauge theory of gravitation with quadratic Lagrangian L_g=(c⁴/16 pi G)( Omega ._jⁱ Lambda eta _i^j+ Theta ⁱ Lambda * Theta _i)+(h(cross)c/16 pi ) Omega ._jⁱ Lambda * Omega ._i^j, where h is the Planck constant; c is the velocity of light in vacuum, G means the Newtonian gravitational constant and Omega ._jⁱ and Theta ⁱ are the curvature and torsion 2-forms respectively, is given. Then, the new physical interpretation of the so-called Bel-Robinson tensor in the framework of the theory is presented; namely, the Bel-Robinson tensor multiplied by the constant beta =hc/16 pi is physically interpreted as the 4-index energy-momentum tensor of the vacuum and torsionless gauge field R._klmⁱ.

Print publication: Issue 3 (May 1985)