A Non-geometric Relativistic Theory of Gravitation

A non-geometric relativistic theory of gravitation is developed by defining a semi-metric to replace the metric tensor as gravitational vector potential. The theory show that the energy-momentum tensor of the gravitational field belong to the gravitational source, gravitational radiation is contained in Einstein’s field equations that including the contribution of gravitational field, the real physical singularity in the gravitational field can be eliminated, and the dark matter in the universe is interpreted as the matter of pure gravitational field.     

含物质纯重力场部分贡献的静态和稳态重力场研究

给出了包含重力场贡献在内具有宇宙因子项最普遍形式的重力场方程为Rμν-gμνR/2+λgμν=8πG(T(Ⅰ)μν+T(Ⅱ)μν)/c4，这里λ为Einstein宇宙常数，Ｔ（Ⅰ）μν，Ｔ（Ⅱ）μν分别代表物质纯物质部分和纯重力场部分的能量-动量张量.物质纯重力场部分的能量-动量张量表述为T(Ⅱ)μν=(DμρＤρν-gμνＤαβＤαβ/4)/4πG，式中Dμν的定义为Ｄμν＝ωμ／xν-ων／xμ，ωμ≡-c2gμ0/g00.并用重力场贡献在内最普遍形式的重力场方程分别研究了几个大家所熟悉的静态和稳态重力场，像带有Einstein宇宙因子λ项球对称纯物质球外部静态度规、静态荷电球外部度规、匀速转动星体外部度规及理想纯物质星体内部静态平衡等,并进行了讨论. 关键词： 能量动量张量 重力场方程 静态重力场 稳态重力场     

The generalized Einstein-Maxwell theory of gravitation

A new Lagrangian theory of gravitation in which the metric and the arbitrary affine connection are regarded as independent field variables has been considered. Making use of the pure geometrical objects only from the variational principle the empty field equations are derived. It is shown that the metric obeys the ordinary Einstein equations of general relativity. However, the covariant derivative of the metric tensor does not vanish, so that the vector's length is generally nonintegrable under the parallel displacement. The torsion trace vector turns out to be the natural dynamical variable, satisfying the Maxwell-like equations with tensor of homothetic curvature as the Maxwell tensor. The equations of motion are explored; they are shown to be identical to the motion of electric charge under the Lorentz force. The conservation laws are discussed.     

Conformal transformations in metric‐affine gravity and ghosts

Conformal transformations play a widespread role in gravity theories in regard to their cosmological and other implications. In the pure metric theory of gravity, conformal transformations change the frame to a new one wherein one obtains a conformal‐invariant scalar–tensor theory such that the scalar field, deriving from the conformal factor, is a ghost. In this work, conformal transformations and ghosts will be analyzed in the framework of the metric‐affine theory of gravity. Within this framework, metric and connection are independent variables, and, hence, transform independently under conformal transformations. It will be shown that, if affine connection is invariant under conformal transformations, then the scalar field of concern is a non‐ghost, non‐dynamical field. It is an auxiliary field at the classical level, and might develop a kinetic term at the quantum level. Alternatively, if connection transforms additively with a structure similar to yet more general than that of the Levi‐Civita connection, the resulting action describes the gravitational dynamics correctly, and, more importantly, the scalar field becomes a dynamical non‐ghost field. The equations of motion, for generic geometrical and matter‐sector variables, do not reduce connection to the Levi‐Civita connection, and, hence, independence of connection from metric is maintained. Therefore, metric‐affine gravity provides an arena in which ghosts arising from the conformal factor are avoided thanks to the independence of connection from the metric.     

Metric‐free definition of the energy momentum tensor: Gravitation with symmetric connection

A metric‐free definition of the energy momentum tensor is presented. That definition can be used with any Lagrangian based gravitational theory where the independent variable is a symmetric connection. The case of Hilbert‐Einstein gravitation is treated as an example of such a theory.     

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.     

Hermitian Geometry and Complex Space-Time

We consider a complex Hermitian manifold of complex dimensions four with a Hermitian metric and a Chern connection. It is shown that the action that determines the dynamics of the metric is unique, provided that the linearized Einstein action coupled to an antisymmetric tensor is obtained, in the limit when the imaginary coordinates vanish. The unique action is of the Chern-Simons type when expressed in terms of the Kähler form. The antisymmetric tensor field has gauge transformations coming from diffeomorphism invariance in the complex directions. The equations of motion must be supplemented by boundary conditions imposed on the Hermitian metric to give, in the limit of vanishing imaginary coordinates, the low-energy effective action for a curved metric coupled to an antisymmetric tensor.     

Nonlinear massive spin-2 field generated by higher derivative gravity

We present a systematic exposition of the Lagrangian field theory for the massive spin-2 field generated in higher-derivative gravity upon reduction to a second-order theory by means of the appropriate Legendre transformation. It has been noticed by various authors that this nonlinear field overcomes the well-known inconsistency of the theory for a linear massive spin-2 field interacting with Einstein’s gravity. Starting from a Lagrangian quadratically depending on the Ricci tensor of the metric, we explore the two possible second-order pictures usually called “(Helmholtz-)Jordan frame” and “Einstein frame.” In spite of their mathematical equivalence, the two frames have different structural properties: in Einstein frame, the spin-2 field is minimally coupled to gravity, while in the other frame it is necessarily coupled to the curvature, without a separate kinetic term. We prove that the theory admits a unique and linearly stable ground state solution, and that the equations of motion are consistent, showing that these results can be obtained independently in either frame (each frame therefore provides a self-contained theory). The full equations of motion and the (variational) energy-momentum tensor for the spin-2 field in Einstein frame are given, and a simple but non-trivial exact solution to these equations is found. The comparison of the energy-momentum tensors for the spin-2 field in the two frames suggests that the Einstein frame is physically more acceptable. We point out that the energy-momentum tensor generated by the Lagrangian of the linearized theory is unrelated to the corresponding tensor of the full theory. It is then argued that the ghost-like nature of the nonlinear spin-2 field, found long ago in the linear approximation, may not be so harmful to classical stability issues, as has been expected.     

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.     

A class of metric theories of gravitation on Minkowski spacetime

A class of metric theories of gravitation on Minkowski spacetime is considered, which is—provided that certain assumptions (staying close to the original ideas of Einstein) are made—the almost most general one that can be considered. In addition to the Minkowskian metric G a dynamical metric H (called the Einstein metric)is defined by means of a second-rank tensor field S (referred to as gravitational potential).The theory is defined by a Lagrangian , from which the field equations as well as, e.g., the energy-momentum tensor field for the gravitational field follow. The case of weak fields is considered explicitly. The static, spherically and time-inversal symmetric field is calculated, and as a first step to investigate the theory's viability the parameters are fitted to the experimental data of the perihelion advance and the deflection of light at the Sun. Finally the question of gauge freedoms in the gravitational potential is briefly discussed.     

On the Rainich geometrization of a vector meson field in the Kibble theory

The variables of a vector meson field are determined within the framework of the Kibble theory as the functions of the metric tensor, affine connection and their derivatives and a system of differential equations is found for the metric tensor and affine connection which is equivalent to the equations of motion of gravitational and vector meson fields.     

Gravity with Extra Dimensions and Dark Matter Interpretation: Phenomenological Example via Miyamoto–Nagai Galaxy

Any connection between dark matter and extra dimensions is revealed by the effective energy-momentum tensor associated with the theory. In order to investigate and test such a relationship, we examine a higher-dimensional space–time endowed with a factorizable general metric with a configuration such that its density profile coincides with the Newtonian potential for disk galaxies. An appropriate solution representing stratifications of mass in the central-bulge and disk part of galaxies, e.g., the Miyamoto–Nagai ansatz, is used to solve the Einstein equations. We compute the stable rotation curves of such systems and, with no adjustable parameters, accurately recover the observational data for flat or not asymptotically flat galaxy rotation curves. We present examples of density profiles and compare them to the profile obtained from purely Newtonian potentials.     

Neighbours of Einstein's equations: Connections and curvatures

Once the action for Einstein's equations is rewritten as a functional of anSO(3, ) connection and a conformal factor of the metric, it admits a family of neighbours having the same number of degrees of freedom and a precisely defined metric tensor. This paper analyzes the relation between the Riemann tensor of that metric and the curvature tensor of theSO(3) connection. The relation is very complicated in general. The Einstein case is distinguished by the fact that two naturalSO(3) metrics on theGL(3) fibres coincide. In the general case the theory is bimetric on the fibres.     

A Kinetic Theory Approach to Quantum Gravity

We describe a kinetic theory approach to quantum gravity by which we mean a theory of the microscopic structure of space-time, not a theory obtained by quantizing general relativity. A figurative conception of this program is like building a ladder with two knotty poles: quantum matter field on the right and space-time on the left. Each rung connecting the corresponding knots represents a distinct level of structure. The lowest rung is hydrodynamics and general relativity; the next rung is semiclassical gravity, with the expectation value of quantum fields acting as source in the semiclassical Einstein equation. We recall how ideas from the statistical mechanics of interacting quantum fields helped us identify the existence of noise in the matter field and its effect on metric fluctuations, leading to the establishment of the third rung: stochastic gravity, described by the Einstein–Langevin equation. Our pathway from stochastic to quantum gravity is via the correlation hierarchy of noise and induced metric fluctuations. Three essential tasks beckon: (1) deduce the correlations of metric fluctuations from correlation noise in the matter field; (2) reconstituting quantum coherence—this is the reverse of decoherence—from these correlation functions; and (3) use the Boltzmann–Langevin equations to identify distinct collective variables depicting recognizable metastable structures in the kinetic and hydrodynamic regimes of quantum matter fields and how they demand of their corresponding space-time counterparts. This will give us a hierarchy of generalized stochastic equations—call them the Boltzmann–Einstein hierarchy of quantum gravity—for each level of space-time structure, from the the macroscopic (general relativity) through the mesoscopic (stochastic gravity) to the microscopic (quantum gravity).     

Cylindrical Sources in Full Einstein and Brans-Dicke Gravity

It was shown by Hiscock that the energy-momentum tensor commonly used to model local cosmic strings in linearized Einstein gravity can be extended and used in the full theory, obtaining a metric in the exterior of the source with the same deficit angle. Here we show that this tensor is an exception within a family for which a static solution does not exist in full Einstein nor in Brans-Dicke gravity.     

New developments in the theory of gravity interacting with quantized fields

Renormalization in the theory of a quantized scalar field interacting with the classical Einstein gravitational field is discussed. The scalar field obeys the generalization of the Klein-Gordon equation which is conformally invariant in the limit of vanishing mass. A generalized Kasner metric corresponding to an anisotropic expansion of the universe is considered. Results obtained in collaboration with S.A. Fulling and B.L. Hu are described, which show explicitly how the infinities appearing in the expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor can be absorbed through renormalization of the cosmological constant and the coefficients of a quadratic tensor appearing in a slightly generalized form of the Einstein equation. There is also a finite renormalization of the gravitational constant.     

A Generalization of the Goldberg–Sachs theorem and its consequences

The Goldberg–Sachs theorem is generalized for all four-dimensional manifolds endowed with torsion-free connection compatible with the metric, the treatment includes all signatures as well as complex manifolds. It is shown that when the Weyl tensor is algebraically special severe geometric restrictions are imposed. In particular it is demonstrated that the simple self-dual eigenbivectors of the Weyl tensor generate integrable isotropic planes. Another result obtained here is that if the self-dual part of the Weyl tensor vanishes in a Ricci-flat manifold of (2,2) signature the manifold must be Calabi–Yau or symplectic and admits a solution for the source-free Einstein–Maxwell equations.     

Gravimagnetism,causality, and aberration of gravity in the gravitational light-ray deflection experiments

Experimental verification of the existence of gravimagnetic fields generated by currents of matter is important for a complete understanding and formulation of gravitational physics. Although the rotational (intrinsic) gravimagnetic field has been extensively studied and is now being measured by the Gravity Probe B, the extrinsic gravimagnetic field generated by the translational current of matter is less well studied. The present paper uses the post-Newtonian parametrized Einstein and light geodesics equations to show that the extrinsic gravimagnetic field generated by the translational current of matter can be measured by observing the relativistic time delay and/or light deflection caused by the moving mass. We prove that the extrinsic gravimagnetic field is generated by the relativistic effect of the aberration of the gravity force caused by the Lorentz transformation of the metric tensor and the Levi–Civita connection. We show that the Lorentz transformation of the gravity field variables is equivalent to the technique of the retarded Lienard–Wiechert gravitational potentials predicting that a light particle is deflected by gravitational field of a moving body from its retarded position so that both general-relativistic phenomena—the aberration and the retardation of gravity—are tightly connected and observing the aberration of gravity proves that gravity has a causal nature. We explain in this framework the 2002 deflection experiment of a quasar by Jupiter where the aberration of gravity from its orbital motion was measured with accuracy 20%. We describe a theory of VLBI experiment to measure the gravitational deflection of radio waves from a quasar by the Sun, as viewed by a moving observer from the geocentric frame, to improve the measurement accuracy of the aberration of gravity to a few percent.     

Gravitational field of a radiating rotating body

A nonstationary solution of the Einstein field equations, corresponding to the field of a radiating rotating body, is presented. The solution is algebraically special of Petrov type II with a twisting, shear-free, null congruence identical to that of the Kerr metric. The new metric bears the same relation to the Kerr metric as does Vaidya's metric to the Schwarzschild metric, in the sense that in both cases the radiating solution is generated from the nonradiating one by replacing the mass parameter by an arbitrary function of a retarded time coordinate. The energy-momentum tensor in the present case, however, has two terms, a Vaidya type radiative one and an additional nonradiative residual term. Due to the presence of the nonradiative term in this case, however, the energy-momentum tensor becomes Vaidya-like asymptotically only, thus allowing for a geometrical optics interpretation. Asymptotically, part of the radiation field is purely electromagnetic with a Maxwell tensor which admits only one principal null direction corresponding to the undirectional flow of radiation.