Nonsymmetric gravity theories: Inconsistencies and a cure

T. Damour, S. Deser, and J. McCarthy
Phys. Rev. D 47, 1541 – Published 15 February 1993
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

Motivated by the apparent dependence of string σ models on the sum of spacetime metric and antisymmetric tensor fields, we reconsider gravity theories constructed from a nonsymmetric metric. We first show, by expanding in powers of the antisymmetric field, that all such ‘‘geometrical’’ theories homogeneous in second derivatives violate standard physical requirements: ghost freedom, absence of algebraic inconsistencies, or continuity of degree-of-freedom content. This no-go result applies in particular to the old unified theory of Einstein and its recent avatars. However, we find that the addition of nonderivative, ‘‘cosmological’’ terms formally restores consistency by giving a mass to the antisymmetric tensor field, thereby transmuting it into a fifth-force-like massive vector but with novel possible matter couplings. The resulting macroscopic models also exhibit ‘‘van der Waals’’–type gravitational effects, and may provide useful phenomenological foils to general relativity.

  • Received 26 June 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.47.1541

©1993 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. Damour

  • Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques, 91440 Bures sur Yvette, France
  • Département d’Astrophysique Relativiste et de Cosmologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon, France

S. Deser

  • Physics Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254

J. McCarthy

  • Department of Physics and Mathematical Physics, University of Adelaide, GPO Box 498, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 47, Iss. 4 — 15 February 1993

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×