Gravity Beyond Einstein? Yes, but in Which Direction?

TL;DR

This paper explores an extension of gravity theories beyond Einstein's General Relativity by examining conformal gravity, its solutions, and potential to address unresolved issues in high-energy physics and cosmology.

Contribution

It revisits the conformal gravity framework, analyzing exact solutions and proposing it as a promising extension to Einstein's theory for solving fundamental gravitational problems.

Findings

Exact solutions for static, spherically symmetric configurations in conformal gravity

Potential resolutions to outstanding gravitational and high-energy interaction problems

Support for conformal gravity as a viable extension beyond Einstein's theory

Abstract

We present qualitative arguments in favor of an extension of the theory of the gravitational interaction beyond that resulting from the Hilbert-Einstein action. To this end we consider a locally conformal invariant theory of gravity, discussed some thirty years ago by Mannheim and Kazanas. We discuss its exact solution of the static, spherically symmetric configurations and, based on these, we revisit some of the outstanding problems associated with gravity, high energy interactions and sketch potential resolutions within the conformal gravity framework.