Algebraic classification of the gravitational field in Weyl-Cartan space-times

Abstract

We present a complete algebraic classification for the curvature tensor in Weyl-Cartan geometry, by applying methods of eigenvalues and principal null directions on its irreducible decomposition under the group of global Lorentz transformations, thus providing a full invariant characterisation of all the possible algebraic types of the torsion and nonmetricity field strength tensors in Weyl-Cartan space-times. As an application, we show that in the framework of Metric-Affine Gravity the field strength tensors of a dynamical torsion field cannot be doubly aligned with the principal null directions of the Riemannian Weyl tensor in scalar-flat, slowly rotating, stationary and axisymmetric space-times.