Distinguishability of Weyl-from Lorentz-space-times by classical physical means (Q674851)

The article gives a new axiomatic approach to the Lorentzian spacetime of general relativity. The present axiomatics is based on the fundamental concepts of light signals, free fall and clock parametrizations. The metric tensor is constructed by the axioms. The author achieves the Lorentzian spacetime structure directly, without intermediate help of a more general Weyl spacetime. The axiomatic theory of general relativity of Ehlers, Pirani, Schild, whose axioms are also based on light propagation and free fall, constructs intermediately a more general Weyl spacetime and after that constructs the Lorentzian spacetime. Moreover, the theory present here does not use quantum-theoretical reasoning, as it was supposed in the literature. The author also investigates the relations of his axioms with the Weyl spacetime models.