Lovelock's theorem revisited (Q719405)

Let \((X,g)\) be an arbitrary pseudo-Riemannian manifold. D. Loverlock described in a series of papers all the symmetric and divergence-free natural \((0,2)\)-tensors on \(X\) with coefficients depending on second order derivatives of the metric. However, the proof of these results is rather long and intricate. In the present paper, the authors present a short and self-contained proof that simplifies the original arguments. They apply the theory of natural tensors in an essential way.