A Weyl-Type Theorem for Geometrized Newtonian Gravity

Abstract

I state and prove, in the context of a space having only the metrical and affine structure imposed by the geometrized version of Newtonian gravitational theory, a theorem analagous to that of Weyl's for a Lorentz manifold. The theorem says that a projective structure and a suitably defined compatible conformal structure jointly suffice for fixing the metric structure of a Newtonian spacetime model up to constant factors, and for fixing its affine structure as well. The theorem allows one to give a natural, physically compelling interpretation of the spatiotemporal geometry of a geometrized Newtonian gravity spacetime manifold, in close analogy with the way Weyl's Theorem allows one to do in general relativity.

withdrawn due to an error in the proof of the main intended result, which is not true in its present form