Second-order covariant tensor decomposition in curved spacetime (Q1595882)

A classic decomposition theorem states that any regular vector field in the \(3\)-dimensional space can be expressed as a gradient plus a divergence-free component. A covariant decomposition of symmetric \(2\)-tensors into irreducible parts has also been considered and turned out to be useful. Therefore, the purpose of the paper under review is to complete those decompositions by considering decompositions of \(4\)-dimensional vectors and symmetric \(2\)-tensors in spacetimes.