Weyl geometry

We develop the properties of Weyl geometry, beginning with a review of the conformal properties of Riemannian spacetimes. Decomposition of the Riemann curvature into trace and traceless parts allows an easy proof that the Weyl curvature tensor is the conformally invariant part of the Riemann curvature, and shows the explicit change in the Ricci and Schouten tensors required to insure conformal invariance. We include a proof of the well-known condition for the existence of a conformal transformation to a Ricci-flat spacetime. We generalize this to a derivation of the condition for the existence of a conformal transformation to a spacetime satisfying the Einstein equation with matter sources. Then, enlarging the symmetry from Poincaré to Weyl, we develop the Cartan structure equations of Weyl geometry, the form of the curvature tensor and its relationship to the Riemann curvature of the corresponding Riemannian geometry. We present a simple theory of Weyl-covariant gravity based on a curvature-linear action, and show that it is conformally equivalent to general relativity. This theory is invariant under local dilatations, but not the full conformal group.     

Quadratic metric‐affine gravity

We consider spacetime to be a connected real 4‐manifold equipped with a Lorentzian metric and an affine connection. The 10 independent components of the (symmetric) metric tensor and the 64 connection coefficients are the unknowns of our theory. We introduce an action which is (purely) quadratic in curvature and study the resulting system of Euler–Lagrange equations. In the first part of the paper we look for Riemannian solutions, i.e. solutions whose connection is Levi‐Civita. We find two classes of Riemannian solutions: 1) Einstein spaces, and 2) spacetimes with pp‐wave metric of parallel Ricci curvature. We prove that for a generic quadratic action these are the only Riemannian solutions. In the second part of the paper we look for non‐Riemannian solutions. We define the notion of a “Weyl pseudoinstanton” (metric compatible spacetime whose curvature is purely of Weyl type) and prove that a Weyl pseudoinstanton is a solution of our field equations. Using the pseudoinstanton approach we construct explicitly a non‐Riemannian solution which is a wave of torsion in a spacetime with Minkowski metric. We discuss the possibility of using this non‐Riemannian solution as a mathematical model for the neutrino.     

Getzler symbol calculus and deformation quantization

In this paper we give a construction of Fedosov quantization incorporating the odd variables and an analogous formula to Getzler’s pseudodifferential calculus composition formula is obtained. A Fedosov type connection is constructed on the bundle of Weyl tensor Clifford algebras over the cotangent bundle of a Riemannian manifold. The quantum algebra associated with this connection is used to define a deformation of the exterior algebra of Riemannian manifolds.     

The program ORTOCARTAN for algebraic calculations in relativity

The program ORTOCARTAN can calculate the curvature tensors (Riemann, Ricci, Einstein and Weyl) from a given orthonormal tetrad representation of the metric tensor. It was first announced in 1981, but since then has undergone several extensions and transplants onto other computers. This article reviews the current status of the program from the point of view of a user. The following topics are discussed: the problems that the program can be applied to, the special features of the algorithms that make the program powerful, the technical requirements to run the program and two simple examples of applications.     

Positivity of General Superenergy Tensors

Several of the most important results in general relativity require or assume positivity properties of certain tensors. The positive energy theorem and the singularity theorems make assumptions about the energy-momentum tensor and Ricci tensor respectively. Positivity of the Bel–Robinson tensor is needed in the proof of the global stability of Minkowski spacetime. Senovilla has recently presented a procedure of how to construct a superenergy tensor from any tensor. For a Maxwell field or a scalar field the procedure yields the usual energy-momentum tensor, for the Weyl tensor and the Riemann tensor one obtains the Bel–Robinson tensor and Bel tensor respectively. In general, by considering any tensor as an r-fold n ₁,…,n _r )-form, one constructs a rank 2r superenergy tensor from it. By using spinor methods, we prove that the contraction of any such superenergy tensor with 2r future-pointing vectors is non-negative. We refer to this as the dominant superenergy property and it generalizes several previous positivity results obtained for certain tensors as well as it provides a unified way of treating them. Some more examples are given and applications discussed. Received: 21 December 1998 / Accepted: 5 May 1999     

Algebraic classification of the matter tensor

A study is made of the matter tensor, which is constructed using only the energy tensor and the metric tensor and has all the algebraic properties of the Riemann tensor. The possible types of matter tensor are classified in the same way as Petrov's classification for the Weyl tensor, and the relationship between the matter tensor and the canonical forms of the corresponding energy tensors is established.Translated from Izvestiya VUZ. Fizika, No. 12, pp. 101–109, December, 1973.I thank V. I. Rodichev for discussing the results and for valuable comments.     

Spacetimes in which the Ricci equations characterize the Riemann tensor

It has recently been asked whether a fourth-order tensorK with all the algebraic symmetries of a Riemann tensor, and which satisfies the Ricci equations (with covariant derivative constructed from the metricg in the usual way), is always equal to the Riemann tensorR of the metricg; and a positive answer has been given for a generic tensorK in any nonflat 4-dimensional spacetime. In this paper it is shown that the result is also true in a generic 4-dimensional spacetime for any nontrivial tensorK. In addition, those special spacetimes where the result fails are given explicitly in terms of the Petrov types of their Weyl and Plebanski tensors.     

Computer calculation of tensors in Riemann normal coordinates

A new method of calculation is given for arbitrary tensors in Riemann normal coordinates. Inventing a compact notation for an abstract form of tensors which is suitable to a noncommutative algebra system, we carry out the computer calculations to obtain coefficients of the Taylor expansion of tensors in Riemann normal coordinates. Explicit forms are given up to the tenth order for the metric tensor.     

Space times of embedding class one in general relativity

The algebraic structures of both the Ricci and Weyl tensors, given that of the second fundamental tensor, are tabulated. In particular, the Weyl tensor is algebraically special if and only if the second fundamental tensor is algebraically special. A class one perfect fluid is found to possess at least one of the following properties: (a) conformai flatness; (b) the flow is geodesic; (c) it admits a three-dimensional group of isometries with two-dimensional space-like trajectories. All solutions with property (b) are obtained explicitly.     

Towards a theory of macroscopic gravity

By averaging out Cartan's structure equations for a four-dimensional Riemannian space over space regions, the structure equations for the averaged space have been derived with the procedure being valid on an arbitrary Riemannian space. The averaged space is characterized by a metric, Riemannian and non-Rimannian curvature 2-forms, and correlation 2-, 3- and 4-forms, an affine deformation 1-form being due to the non-metricity of one of two connection 1-forms. Using the procedure for the space-time averaging of the Einstein equations produces the averaged ones with the terms of geometric correction by the correlation tensors. The equations of motion for averaged energy momentum, obtained by averaging out the contracted Bianchi identities, also include such terms. Considering the gravitational induction tensor to be the Riemannian curvature tensor (the non-Riemannian one is then the field tensor), a theorem is proved which relates the algebraic structure of the averaged microscopic metric to that of the induction tensor. It is shown that the averaged Einstein equations can be put in the form of the Einstein equations with the conserved macroscopic energy-momentum tensor of a definite structure including the correlation functions. By using the high-frequency approximation of Isaacson with second-order correction to the microscopic metric, the self-consistency and compatibility of the equations and relations obtained are shown. Macrovacuum turns out to be Ricci non-flat, the macrovacuum source being defined in terms of the correlation functions. In the high-frequency limit the equations are shown to become Isaacson's ones with the macrovauum source becoming Isaacson's stress tensor for gravitational waves.     

Averaging out the Einstein equations

A general scheme to average out an arbitrary 4-dimensional Riemannian space and to construct the geometry of the averaged space is proposed. It is shown that the averaged manifold has a metric and two equi-affine symmetric connections. The geometry of the space is characterized by the tensors of Riemannian and non-Riemannian curvatures, an affine deformation tensor being the result of non-metricity of one of the connections. To average out the differential Bianchi identities, correlation 2-form, 3-form and 4-form are introduced and the differential relations on these correlations tensors are derived, the relations being integrable on an arbitrary averaged manifold. Upon assuming a splitting rule for the average of the product including a covariantly constant tensor, an averaging out of the Einstein equations has been carried out which brings additional terms with the correlation tensors into them. As shown by averaging out the contracted Bianchi identities, the equations of motion for the averaged energy-momentum tensor do also include the geometric correction terms. Considering the gravitational induction tensor to be the Riemannian curvature tensor (then the non-Riemannian one is the macroscopic gravitational field), a theorem that relates the algebraic structure of the averaged microscopic metric with that of the induction tensor is proved. Due to the theorem the same field operator as in the Einstein equations is manifestly extracted from the averaged ones. Physical interpretation and application of the relations and equations obtained to treat macroscopic gravity are discussed.     

On the algebraic types of the Bel–Robinson tensor

The Bel–Robinson tensor is analyzed as a linear map on the space of the traceless symmetric tensors. This study leads to an algebraic classification that refines the usual Petrov–Bel classification of the Weyl tensor. The new classes correspond to degenerate type I space-times which have already been introduced in literature from another point of view. The Petrov–Bel types and the additional ones are intrinsically characterized in terms of the sole Bel–Robinson tensor, and an algorithm is proposed that enables the different classes to be distinguished. Results are presented that solve the problem of obtaining the Weyl tensor from the Bel–Robinson tensor in regular cases.     

Self-Dual Conformal Gravity

We find necessary and sufficient conditions for a Riemannian four-dimensional manifold (M, g) with anti-self-dual Weyl tensor to be locally conformal to a Ricci-flat manifold. These conditions are expressed as the vanishing of scalar and tensor conformal invariants. The invariants obstruct the existence of parallel sections of a certain connection on a complex rank-four vector bundle over M. They provide a natural generalisation of the Bach tensor which vanishes identically for anti-self-dual conformal structures. We use the obstructions to demonstrate that LeBrun’s anti-self-dual metrics on connected sums of \({\mathbb{CP}^2}\) s are not conformally Ricci-flat on any open set. We analyze both Riemannian and neutral signature metrics. In the latter case we find all anti-self-dual metrics with a parallel real spinor which are locally conformal to Einstein metrics with non-zero cosmological constant. These metrics admit a hyper-surface orthogonal null Killing vector and thus give rise to projective structures on the space of β-surfaces.     

Weyl tensor as a conformal mapping criterion

The nonequivalence of the Weyl tensor and the conformai correspondence as conformai mapping criteria for Riemann spaces is established in a previous paper [1]. In this paper, it is proved rigorously by an example of a space of constant De Sitter curvature that the disappearance of the Weyl tensor is a necessary but not sufficient condition for conformal mapping.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 7, pp. 92–95, July, 1982.     

Empty space-times of embedding class two

Using the canonical forms for symmetric tensors in Minkowski space and the Petrov forms of the Weyl tensor, algebraic relationships between the two kinds of classification are developed for empty space-times of embedding class two.     

Third-order tensor potentials for the Riemann and Weyl tensors. II: Singular solutions

The analysis of the admissibility of a potential representation for the Riemann tensor is here continued. As in the preceding paper, the starting point is to regard the relationship between the Riemann tensor and its possible potential as a system of partial differential equations determining the unknown potential. The first result, strengthening a previous conclusion, is that there never exist ordinary solutions. Surprisingly enough, in a four-dimensional Riemannian manifold the existence of singular solutions is established without requiring any integrability condition. Possible applications and generalizations are also suggested.     

Quantization on a two-dimensional phase space with a constant curvature tensor

Some properties of the star product of the Weyl type (i.e., associated with the Weyl ordering) are proved. Fedosov construction of the *-product on a two-dimensional phase space with a constant curvature tensor is presented. Eigenvalue equations for momentum p and position q on a two-dimensional phase space with constant curvature tensors are solved.     

An Approximated Solution of the Einstein Equations for a Rotating Body with Negligible Mass

The paper considers the problem of finding the metric of space time around a rotating, weakly gravitating body. Both external and internal metric tensors are consistently found, together with an appropriate source tensor. All tensors are calculated at the lowest meaningful approximation in a power series. The two physical parameters entering the equations (the mass and the angular momentum per unit mass) are assumed to be such that the mass effects are negligible with respect to the rotation effects. A non zero Riemann tensor is obtained. The order of magnitude of the physical effects is discussed.     

A note on Killing tensors

The connection between symmetric and skew-symmetric Killing tensors is studied. Some theorems on skew-symmetric Killing tensors are generalized, and it is shown that in all type-D vacuum metrics admitting a symmetric Killing tensor, this Killing tensor can be given in terms of a skew-symmetric Killing tensor.