Comparing Equivalent Gravities: common features and differences

TL;DR

This paper compares different formulations of gravity—General Relativity, Teleparallel, and Symmetric Teleparallel—highlighting their common features, differences, and underlying principles within the framework of metric-affine geometries.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the geometric trinity of gravity, emphasizing their equivalence and the foundational principles from teleparallel perspectives.

Findings

The three theories are dynamically equivalent under multiple standards.

Teleparallel approaches offer gauge-theoretic insights into gravity.

Foundational principles like the Equivalence Principle are interpretable within teleparallel frameworks.

Abstract

We discuss equivalent representations of gravity in the framework of metric-affine geometries pointing out basic concepts from where these theories stem out. In particular, we take into account tetrads and spin connection to describe the so called {\it Geometric Trinity of Gravity}. Specifically, we consider General Relativity, constructed upon the metric tensor and based on the curvature $R$; Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity, formulated in terms of torsion $T$ and relying on tetrads and spin connection; Symmetric Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity, built up on non-metricity $Q$, constructed from metric tensor and affine connection. General Relativity is formulated as a geometric theory of gravity based on metric, whereas teleparallel approaches configure as gauge theories, where gauge choices permit not only to simplify calculations, but also to give deep insight into the basic concepts of gravitational field. In particular, we point out how foundation principles of General Relativity (i.e the Equivalence Principle and the General Covariance) can be seen from the teleparallel point of view. These theories are dynamically equivalent and this feature can be demonstrated under three different standards: (1) the variational method; (2) the field equations; (3) the solutions.