Abstract
We deal with the question, under which circumstances the canonical Noether stress-energy tensor is equivalent to the gravitational (Hilbert) tensor for general matter fields under the influence of gravity. In the framework of general relativity, the full equivalence is established for matter fields that do not couple to the metric derivatives. Spinor fields are included into our analysis by reformulating general relativity in terms of tetrad fields, and the case of Poincaré gauge theory, with an additional, independent Lorentz connection, is also investigated. Special attention is given to the flat limit, focusing on the expressions for the matter field energy (Hamiltonian). The Dirac–Maxwell system is investigated in detail, with special care given to the separation of free (kinetic) and interaction (or potential) energy. Moreover, the stress-energy tensor of the gravitational field itself is briefly discussed.
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