Geometric algebra techniques for general relativity (Q1827386)

The authors formulate general relativity in the language of Clifford (geometric)algebra. The formalism combines the efficiency of differential forms with the straightforwardness of coordinate methods. The authors focus their attention on orthonormal frames and the associated connection bivector, using them to find the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions. A detailed exposition of the Petrov types for the Weyl tensor is given. The authors point to a paper by \textit{G. E. Sobczyk} [Clifford algebras and their application in mathematical physics, D. Reidel, Dordrecht, Ser. C 183, 227--244 (1986; Zbl 0602.53054), p. 233], which discusses the embedding of the spacetime of general relativity in a pseudo-Euclidean space of higher dimension, utilizing algebra. Another area of interest is the extension of these techniques to the space of Lorentz spinors, which lead to an adaptation of the Newman-Penrose formalism, which has been useful in obtaining many exact solutions. The introduction of a fundamental orthonormal frame of vectors modifies the ontological status of gravitation, which will be interpreted as a flat spacetime theory, in which gravitation is a modification of the geometric relationship of an underlying flat spacetime. From the mathematical point of view this is locally equivalent if looked at it as a theory of intrinsic curved spacetime.