On the teleparallel limit of Poincare gauge theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the fundamental consistency issues of teleparallel theories within Poincare gauge theory, especially when spinning matter is present, revealing that the problem stems from invariance under frame changes and affects all such theories.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the inconsistency in teleparallel theories arises from invariance under frame changes, not just matter tensor symmetry, impacting all Poincare gauge theories with teleparallel geometry.

Findings

Inconsistencies are linked to frame invariance issues.

The problem exists in all Poincare gauge theories with teleparallel limits.

The issue is fundamental, not just related to matter tensor symmetry.

Abstract

We will address the question of the consistency of teleparallel theories in presence of spinning matter which has been a controversial subject of discussion over the last twenty years. We argue that the origin of the problem is not simply the symmetry or asymmetry of the stress-energy tensor of the matter fields, which has been recently analyzed by several authors, but arises at a more fundamental level, namely from the invariance of the field equatins under a frame change, a problem that has been discussed long time ago by Kopczynski in the framework of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity. More importantly, we show that the problem is not only confined to the purely teleparallel theory but arises actually in every Poincare gauge theory that admits a teleparallel geometry in the absence of spinning sources, i.e. in its classical limit.