Space-time defects :Domain walls and torsion

The theory of distributions in non-Riemannian spaces is used to obtain exact static thin domain wall solutions of Einstein-Cartan equations of gravity. Curvature $\delta$-singularities are found while Cartan torsion is given by Heaviside functions. Weitzenb\"{o}ck planar walls are caracterized by torsion $\delta$-singularities and zero curvature. It is shown that Weitzenb\"{o}ck static thin domain walls do not exist exactly as in general relativity. The global structure of Weitzenb\"{o}ck nonstatic torsion walls is investigated.Comment: J.Math.Phys.39,(1998),Jan. issu

Teleparallel Spin Connection

A new expression for the spin connection of teleparallel gravity is proposed, given by minus the contorsion tensor plus a zero connection. The corresponding minimal coupling is covariant under local Lorentz transformation, and equivalent to the minimal coupling prescription of general relativity. With this coupling prescription, therefore, teleparallel gravity turns out to be fully equivalent to general relativity, even in the presence of spinor fields.Comment: 2 pages, RevTeX, to appear in Phys. Rev D (Brief Report

Gravitation and Duality Symmetry

By generalizing the Hodge dual operator to the case of soldered bundles, and working in the context of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, an analysis of the duality symmetry in gravitation is performed. Although the basic conclusion is that, at least in the general case, gravitation is not dual symmetric, there is a particular theory in which this symmetry shows up. It is a self dual (or anti-self dual) teleparallel gravity in which, due to the fact that it does not contribute to the interaction of fermions with gravitation, the purely tensor part of torsion is assumed to vanish. The ensuing fermionic gravitational interaction is found to be chiral. Since duality is intimately related to renormalizability, this theory may eventually be more amenable to renormalization than teleparallel gravity or general relativity.Comment: 7 pages, no figures. Version 2: minor presentation changes, references added. Accepted for publication in Int. J. Mod. Phys.