English

Conformally Invariant Vector-Tensor Field Theories Consistent with Conservation of Charge in a Four-Dimensional Space

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2017-11-07 v2

Abstract

In this paper I shall construct, in a four-dimensional space, all vector-tensor field theories that are conformally invariant, consistent with conservation of charge, and flat space compatible. By the last assumption I mean that the Lagrangian of the theory in question, is well defined and differentiable, when evaluated for either a flat metric tensor (and) or vanishing vector field. Under these assumptions there exists only two classes of Lagrangians. One is represented by the Lagrangian which yields the Bach tensor density multiplied by a constant, while the other is represented by a constant multiple of the usual Lagrangian that yields Maxwell's equations. Thus under the aforementioned assumptions, the field equation obtained by varying the vector field, must be Maxwell's.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1708.09293,
  title  = {Conformally Invariant Vector-Tensor Field Theories Consistent with Conservation of Charge in a Four-Dimensional Space},
  author = {Gregory W. Horndeski},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1708.09293},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

41 pages. In this paper I correct various typos, grammatical errors and mental lapses, that appeared in an earlier version