Conformal gravity with totally antisymmetric torsion

Abstract

We present a gauge theory of the conformal group in four spacetime dimensions with a non-vanishing torsion. In particular, we allow for a completely antisymmetric torsion, equivalent by Hodge duality to an axial vector whose presence does not spoil the conformal invariance of the theory, in contrast with claims of antecedent literature. The requirement of conformal invariance implies a differential condition (in particular, a Killing equation) on the aforementioned axial vector which leads to a Maxwell-like equation in a four-dimensional curved background. We also give some preliminary results in the context of $\mathcal{N}=1$ four-dimensional conformal supergravity in the geometric approach, showing that if we only allow for the constraint of vanishing supertorsion all the other constraints imposed in the spacetime approach are a consequence of the closure of the Bianchi identities in superspace. This paves the way towards a future complete investigation of the conformal supergravity using the Bianchi identities in the presence a non-vanishing (super)torsion.

arXiv commentV2, 30 pages, Title changed to better represent the content, Accepted for publication in Physical Review D

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• Conformal renormalization of scalar-tensor theories
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• Conformal Renormalization of topological black holes in AdS${}_6$
• A black hole solution in conformal supergravity
• On the role of torsion and higher forms in off-shell supergravity
• Dynamical Implementation of the Constraints in Conformal Gravity
• On the geometric approach to the boundary problem in supergravity