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Metric measure space as a framework for gravitation

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Abstract

In this manuscript, we show how conformal invariance can be incorporated in a classical theory of gravitation, in the context of metric measure space. Metric measure space involves a geometrical scalar f, dubbed as density function, which here appears as a conformal degree of freedom. In this framework, we present conformally invariant field equations, the relevant identities and geodesic equations. In metric measure space, the volume element and accordingly the operators with integral based definitions are modified. For instance, the divergence operator in this space differs from the Riemannian one. As a result, a gravitational theory formulated in this space has a generalized second Bianchi identity and a generalized conservation of energy-momentum tensor. It is shown how, by using the generalized identity for conservation of energy-momentum tensor, one can obtain a conformally invariant geodesic equation. By comparison of the geodesic equations in metric measure space with the Bohmian trajectories, in both relativistic and non-relativistic regimes, a relation between density function f and the quantum potential is proposed. This suggests metric measure space to be considered as a suitable framework for geometric description of Bohm’s quantum mechanics. On the other hand, as it is known, Weyl geometry is one of the main approaches to construct conformally invariant gravitational models. Regarding the fact that the connection in the integrable Weyl space is modified and in metric measure space remains the same as it is in the Riemann space, the mathematical analogy between these two spaces is also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran

    Nafiseh Rahmanpour & Hossein Shojaie

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  1. Nafiseh Rahmanpour
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  2. Hossein Shojaie
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Correspondence to Nafiseh Rahmanpour.

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Rahmanpour, N., Shojaie, H. Metric measure space as a framework for gravitation. Gen Relativ Gravit 48, 122 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10714-016-2123-5

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