Using Gauge Covariant Lie Derivatives in Poincaré Gauge and Metric Teleparallel Theories of Gravity

Abstract

A procedure to determine the initial ansatz for the co-frame and spin connection characterizing a Riemann-Cartan geometry respecting a given group of continuous symmetries is illustrated. Given a particular group of symmetries and assuming an orthonormal gauge we can determine the co-frame and corresponding spin connection having this symmetry group by employing an gauge covariant Lie derivative. This gauge covariant Lie derivative when applied to the metric and co-frame determines the values of an antisymmetric compensating matrix. The derivative of this matrix then yields the corresponding spin connection. The procedure is straightforward and can be employed for any Riemann-Cartan geometry having symmetries including those with a non-trivial isotropy subgroup. Here we illustrate the procedure with numerous examples, including, spherically symmetric, plane symmetric, locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type III, Gödel, de Sitter and anti-de Sitter geometries. Further, we have also solved the zero curvature constraint to obtain the resulting spin connection for the corresponding metric teleparallel geometry having this same symmetry group. We complete this investigation by including the Lorentz transformation that yields the proper frame for some of these metric teleparallel geometries.