Paths of spinning particles in general relativity as geodesics of an Einstein connection

This paper deals with the Papapetrou-Pirani equations of motion for a spinning test particle in general relativity. The motion of the center of mass can be represented by the geodesic equation of an affine connection that is the sum of the Christoffel connection and a tensor that depends on the Riemann-Christoffel curvature tensor, the mass of the particle, its 4-velocity, and its spin tensor. The connection is not unique, and here it is chosen to satisfy one of the basic geometrical principles of Einstein's unified field theory: The symmetric part of the fundamental tensor of the geometry is specified to be the metric tensor of general relativity. The special case of conformally flat space-times is discussed.