Conditions for a symmetric connection to be a metric connection (Q4030972)

This paper considers a 4-dimensional manifold \(M\) with a symmetric connection \(\Gamma\) and associated curvature tensor \({R^ a}_{bcd}\). On \(M\) there is also a Lorentz metric \(h\) (not necessarily related to \(\Gamma\)) and a ``Bianchi'' tensor \({B^ a}_{bcd}\) which satisfies \[ {B^ a}_{bcd} = -{B^ a}_{bdc},\;{B^ a}_{[bcd]} = 0,\;{B^ a}_{b[cd;e]} = 0 \] (where a semi-colon denotes a covariant derivative with respect to \(\Gamma\)) and \[ h_{ae}{B^ e}_{bcd} + h_{be}{R^ e}_{acd} = 0. \] The author then shows that, given \(\Gamma\) is ``volume preserving'' (i.e. \({R^ a}_{acd} = 0\)) and provided that the \(36 \times 36\) matrix representing the linear map \[ Q_{cab} \to {B^ f}_{b[cd}{\widetilde{Q}}_{e]af} + {B^ f}_{a[cd}{\widetilde{Q}_{e]}bf} \] (where \(\widetilde{Q}_{cab} = - h_{ab;c} - {1\over 4}({{h_ d}^ d}_{;c})h_{ab})\) is non-singular then \(\Gamma\) is a metric connection. Further, \(g_{ab} = e^{- \lambda}h_{ab}\) (where \(\lambda_{;c} = {1\over 4}h^{ab}h_{ab;c})\) is a metric compatible with \(\Gamma\). The author then continues to show that under the above conditions, \(\Gamma\) determines its compatible metric up to a constant conformal factor. The generic nature of this theorem is also considered by the author, using Whitney topologies. (The reviewer is not, however, convinced by this topological argument). The author then extends his results to the usual integrability conditions on the curvature tensor using a classifications scheme in an article of the reviewer [\textit{G. S. Hall}, Classical general relativity, Proc. Conf., London 1983, 103-120 (1984; Zbl 0577.53021)].