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Thomas-Whitehead Gravity: A New Approach to Forces

This theory offers new insights into gravity and its connections with other forces.

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Thomas-Whitehead gravity is a new way of looking at gravity based on Projective Geometry. It uses a special connection to keep the mathematical structure intact while allowing for changes. This theory connects with familiar ideas from general relativity, making it easier to explore new dimensions of gravity.

What is Projective Geometry?

Projective geometry is a branch of mathematics that studies the properties of shapes that are invariant under projection. This means that certain properties do not change, even if the shapes are viewed from different directions or angles. In the context of gravity, projective geometry helps in understanding how different geometrical structures relate to each other.

How Thomas-Whitehead Gravity Works

In Thomas-Whitehead gravity, a unique connection allows us to define how objects move in a curved spacetime, which is the fabric of the universe where gravity is at play. This connection is not the typical one found in standard gravity theories; rather, it incorporates a broader range of possibilities. It ensures that even as we change our viewpoint, the fundamental properties of the gravitational field remain the same.

The Role of Torsion

Torsion is an additional feature in the Thomas-Whitehead connection. Traditionally, gravity theories assume no torsion, but including it allows for interactions between gravity and other forces in the universe. Torsion can lead to new dynamics and interactions, particularly with particles that have spin, such as electrons. This means that the behavior of these particles can change depending on the gravitational field they are in.

Lifting Fields to a New Level

One key concept in Thomas-Whitehead gravity is the “lifting” of tensor and spinor fields. Fields are mathematical objects that describe physical quantities. Lifting means moving these fields between different mathematical structures, allowing us to study their interactions more effectively. This process reveals that our previous interpretations were limited by the mathematical choices made.

The Interaction of Gravity with Other Forces

Incorporating torsion leads to meaningful interactions with Yang-Mills Fields and Dirac Spinors. Yang-Mills fields are associated with the forces that govern particle interactions, while Dirac spinors describe particles with spin. The presence of torsion allows for new terms in the equations that govern how these particles behave under the influence of gravity.

Projective Gravity's Historical Background

Projective gravity has roots in theoretical physics, going back more than a hundred years. It was originally a tool to ensure that certain mathematical descriptions of motion remained unchanged when moving in different ways. Over time, this area of study has grown, linking with ideas from string theory and higher dimensions.

The Connection Between Different Gravity Theories

One of the key discoveries in Thomas-Whitehead gravity is the relationship between different theories of gravity. Previously, it was believed that certain forms, like the Levi-Civita connection, were the only ones that could describe gravitational fields. However, Thomas-Whitehead gravity shows that there are multiple valid connections that can explain the same phenomena, highlighting the richness of geometric possibilities.

Understanding Spinors and Their Importance

Spinors play a significant role in quantum physics, as they describe particles that have intrinsic angular momentum or spin. By extending the definitions of spinors in the context of Thomas-Whitehead gravity, we can examine how they relate to the new geometries introduced by this theory. The connection between spinors and the gravitational field opens new avenues for understanding matter in the universe.

The Influence of Geometry on Particle Physics

The geometry of spacetime influences how particles behave. In Thomas-Whitehead gravity, the torsion fields created by the new connection can lead to different mass terms for particles. These changes give rise to unique behaviors not predicted by traditional gravity theories. By studying these interactions, we can gain insights into how gravity affects elementary particles.

The Total Action of Thomas-Whitehead Gravity

The total action in Thomas-Whitehead gravity brings together all the concepts discussed in a comprehensive framework. This action describes how gravity interacts with Yang-Mills fields and Dirac spinors while incorporating torsion. It allows physicists to derive equations that represent the dynamics of the system, paving the way for further exploration in both theoretical and experimental realms.

The Importance of Gauge Symmetry

Gauge symmetry is a fundamental principle in physics that ensures certain properties remain unchanged under specific transformations. In Thomas-Whitehead gravity, this symmetry is crucial for understanding interactions between gravity and other forces. It highlights how the fields behave under various conditions, providing a deeper understanding of the connections between gravity and particle physics.

The Future of Research in Thomas-Whitehead Gravity

As Thomas-Whitehead gravity continues to develop, researchers are keen to understand its implications further. The inclusion of torsion provides an exciting pathway to explore potential connections with dark matter and dark energy, which remain some of the biggest mysteries in modern physics. Further studies may reveal how these gravitational theories can help explain phenomena observed in the universe.

Conclusion

Thomas-Whitehead gravity represents an innovative approach to understanding gravity's interplay with other fundamental forces. By integrating projective geometry, torsion, and various fields, it opens new doors for research in theoretical physics. As the community delves deeper into these concepts, it could lead to significant advancements in our understanding of the universe. The richness of the mathematical structures involved promises a journey filled with discoveries yet to come.

Original Source

Title: Geometrical Heavy Lifting: Yang-Mills, Spin, and Torsion in Dynamical Projective Gravitation

Abstract: Thomas-Whitehead (TW) gravity is a gauge theory of gravitation based on projective geometry. The theory maintains projective symmetry through the TW connection, an affine connection over the volume bundle of the spacetime manifold. TW gravity obtains dynamics through Lovelock expansions in the action while preserving general relativity as a weak field limit. In this paper we clarify the process of lifting tensor and spinor fields from spacetime to the volume bundle and demonstrate that a choice of lifting amounts to a gauge fixing condition. This leads to a natural extension of previous work, where we now realize these prior constructions have been restricted to a particular gauge. In pursuit of generality, we also introduce torsion to the TW connection, leading to new dynamics. In particular, the appearance of torsion induces interaction terms involving gravitational coupling with Yang-Mills fields and Dirac spinors. An explicit realization of this is a geometrically sourced chiral mass term arising from the torsion dynamics.

Authors: Samuel J. Brensinger, Patrick Vecera

Last Update: 2024-04-02 00:00:00

Language: English

Source URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.02243

Source PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.02243

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Changes: This summary was created with assistance from AI and may have inaccuracies. For accurate information, please refer to the original source documents linked here.

Thank you to arxiv for use of its open access interoperability.

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