Given a variational problem defined by a natural Lagrangian density Lw on t
he k-jet extension J(k)(Y/X) of a natural bundle p : Y --> X over an n-dime
nsional manifold X, oriented by a volume element w, a stress-energy-momentu
m tensor T(s) is constructed for each section s is an element of Gamma(X, Y
) from the multimomentum map mu(Theta) : Gamma(X, Y) --> Hom(R)(H(X), Ohm(n
-1)(X)) associated to any Poincare-Cartan form Theta and to the natural lif
ting of vector fields H(X) to the bundle Y --> X. The characterization made
for T(s) gives an intrinsic expression of this tensor as well as a general
ization of the classical Belinfante-Rosenfeld formula. This tensor satisfie
s the typical properties of a stress-energy-momentum tensor: Diff(X)-covari
ance, Hilbert formula, conservation law, etc. Furthermore, it plays the exp
ected role in the theory of minimal gravitational interactions. (C) 2000 El
sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Subj. Class.: Classical field theo
ry 1991 MSC: 58B30; 83C40; 76M30.