*me mysteriously appears in a puff of smoke*
Arrrgh... it seems that I need to have a basic knowledge of tensor
analysis before I can start to grasp what the research papers have
been talking about.
The introduction to tensor analysis that I found on the NASA
website was exactly what it was - an introduction. By its own
admission, it was just meant to be a bridge between mid-level
undergraduate maths and advanced mathematics.
Well, at least I found a free online textbook on tensor analysis in
PDF format. Looks like I'll have to print it out and teach myself
some of it. 
*me pulls hair out of head*
