Metrizability of SO(3)-invariant connections: Riemann versus Finsler

Abstract

For a torsion-free affine connection on a given manifold, which does not necessarily arise as the Levi-Civita connection of any pseudo-Riemannian metric, it is still possible that it corresponds in a canonical way to a Finsler structure; this property is known as Finsler (or Berwald-Finsler) metrizability. In the present paper, we clarify, for 4-dimensional SO(3)-invariant, Berwald-Finsler metrizable connections, the issue of the existence of an affinely equivalent pseudo-Riemannian structure. In particular, we find all classes of SO(3)-invariant connections which are not Levi-Civita connections for any pseudo-Riemannian metric - hence, are non-metric in a conventional way - but can still be metrized by SO(3)-invariant Finsler functions. The implications for physics, together with some examples are briefly discussed.