Is the spin connection confined or condensed?

Abstract

The spin connection enters the theory of gravity as a nonabelian gauge field associated with local Lorentz transformations. Normally it is eliminated from making an extra assumption - that of the metricity of the vierbein field. However, treated by itself with the usual gauge action, it has a negative beta function, implying that it is asymptotically free. I suggest that the spin connection could be confined (or perhaps partially confined) in the same way as other nonabelian gauge fields. This would remove the need to make the extra assumption of metricity, as the spin connection would not be present in the low energy theory, leaving the symmetry to be realized only using metric variables.