Basis for scalar curvature invariants in three dimensions

Abstract

$\mathcal{I}$-non-degenerate spaces are spacetimes that can be characterized uniquely by their scalar curvature invariants. The ultimate goal of the current work is to construct a basis for the scalar polynomial curvature invariants in three dimensional Lorentzian spacetimes. In particular, we seek a minimal set of algebraically independent scalar curvature invariants formed by the contraction of the Riemann tensor and its covariant derivatives up to fifth order of differentiation. We use the computer software \emph{Invar} to calculate an overdetermined basis of scalar curvature invariants in three dimensions. We also discuss the equivalence method and the Karlhede algorithm for computing Cartan invariants in three dimensions.