General Relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory

In summary, the conversation is discussing the development of GR as a gauge theory and whether there are any technical obstacles or if it is straightforward. One person suggests that GR was a motivation for Yang-Mills theories and recommends books on "geometry for physicists" that cover the topic. Another person mentions that it is more about differential geometry and suggests specific books to reference. The conversation concludes with the discussion of how the Riemann tensor and the fundamental field entity are related in the analogy.
  • #1
masudr
933
0
It occurred to me that I hadn't seen GR developed as a gauge theory in the same way QCD/electroweak are.

Are there any technical obstacles, or is it reasonably straightforward? And if it is well known, can someone please point me to a reference? Thanks.
 
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  • #2
I think GR was actually one of the motivations behind Yang-Mills theories. I could wax poetically for hours about the subject, but any good "geometry for physicists" book will cover it. Basically you introduce an orthonormal frame which connects frame indices to tangent indices, and gauge those indices. So, for instance, your "field strength" is a Lie-algebra valued 2-form, namely the Riemann tensor. The method goes under the "principal bundle" formalism and can get quite heavy. But it is really simple, mathematicians just like to mathemagicate it.

The book by Nakahara is good, the book by Nash and Sen is good but contains a lot of typos. Anyway, it is more a thing about differential geometry than about GR. Ask if you need more.
 
  • #3
I'll have a look at both. Thanks.
 
  • #4
It works perfectly fine, especially in the Palatini formalism.

The main issue with the analogy is that the Riemann tensor contains second derivatives of the fundamental field 'entity' (the metric) whereas in the fibre bundle point of view, its really first derivatives
 

1. What is general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory?

General relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory is a theoretical framework that combines the principles of general relativity and non-Abelian gauge theories. It proposes that the fundamental forces of nature, such as gravity, can be described by the curvature of spacetime and the gauge fields associated with non-Abelian symmetries.

2. How does general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory differ from traditional general relativity?

While traditional general relativity describes gravity as a curvature of spacetime, general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory incorporates the concept of gauge fields, which are mathematical quantities that represent the fundamental forces of nature. This theory also allows for a unified description of gravity and the other three fundamental forces (electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force).

3. What evidence supports general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory?

One of the main pieces of evidence for general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory is the successful prediction of the existence of the Higgs boson, a particle that is associated with the Higgs field in non-Abelian gauge theories. Additionally, this theory is supported by experimental observations of the gravitational lensing effect and the precession of the perihelion of Mercury's orbit.

4. Can general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory be tested experimentally?

Yes, there are several ongoing experiments and observations that aim to test general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory. These include measuring the gravitational waves emitted by merging black holes, studying the behavior of particles in strong gravitational fields, and detecting the effects of dark matter on the curvature of spacetime.

5. How does general relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory relate to the search for a theory of everything?

General relativity as a non-Abelian gauge theory is often considered a step towards a theory of everything, as it aims to unify all four fundamental forces of nature. However, it is not yet complete and does not account for phenomena such as quantum mechanics and dark matter. Further research and experimentation are needed to fully understand the nature of the universe and find a comprehensive theory of everything.

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