Killing-Yano tensor (${\nabla }_{(a}{Y}_{b)c_2\cdots c_r}=0$)

A Killing-Yano tensor is a differential form satisfying the displayed equation for the Levi-Civita connection. Its covariant derivative is totally antisymmetric. Contraction with the velocity of an affinely parametrized geodesic gives a form that is carried by parallel transport along that geodesic. This differs from a Killing tensor, which is symmetric.

For a Killing-Yano two-form, ${\nabla }_a{Y}_{bc}$ is a differential three-form. Along a geodesic with velocity $v$, the covector $w_c=Y_{bc}{v}^b$ is carried by parallel transport, since $v^a{v}^b{\nabla }_a{Y}_{bc}=0$.

The square is a rank-two Killing tensor. It is symmetric because it pairs the covectors $Y_{a\cdot }$ and $Y_{b\cdot }$ using the metric. Along every affinely parametrized geodesic, its contraction $K(v,v)$ is the squared norm of the carried by parallel transport covector $Y(v,\cdot )$. Metric compatibility makes that norm constant, proving the Killing tensor equation. On a Riemannian manifold this tensor is positive semidefinite.