New Conformal Gauging and the Electromagnetic Theory of Weyl

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new 8-dimensional conformal gauging that resolves issues in Weyl's electromagnetic theory, establishing a geometric framework unifying gravity and electromagnetism with potential observable implications.

Contribution

It develops a novel 8-dimensional conformal gauging approach that unifies gravitational and electromagnetic theories within a consistent geometric framework.

Findings

Derives Maurer-Cartan structure equations and finds zero curvature solutions.

Establishes a correspondence between phase space, action, and the 8-dimensional base space.

Provides curvature constraints linking 8D geometries to Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes.

Abstract

A new 8-dim conformal gauging solves the auxiliary field problem and eliminates unphysical size change from Weyl's electromagnetic theory. We derive the Maurer-Cartan structure equations and find the zero curvature solutions for the conformal connection. By showing that every one-particle Hamiltonian generates the structure equations we establish a correspondence between phase space and the 8-dim base space, and between the action and the integral of the Weyl vector. Applying the correspondence to generic flat solutions yields the Lorentz force law, the form and gauge dependence of the electromagnetic vector potential and minimal coupling. The dynamics found for these flat solutions applies locally in generic spaces. We then provide necessary and sufficient curvature constraints for general curved 8-dimensional geometries to be in 1-1 correspondence with 4-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes, based on a vector space isomorphism between the extra four dimensions and the Riemannian tangent space. Despite part of the Weyl vector serving as the electromagnetic vector potential, the entire class of geometries has vanishing dilation, thereby providing a consistent unified geometric theory of gravitation and electromagnetism. In concluding, we discuss the observability of the extra dimensions.