4-Index theory of gravity and its relation with the violation of the energy-momentum conservation law

摘要

Recently, a 4-index generalization of the Einstein theory has been proposed by Moulin [F. Moulin, Eur. Phys. T. C 77, 878 (2017)]. Using this method, we find the most general 2-index field equations derivable from the Einstein-Hilbert action. The application of Newtonian limit, the role of gravitational coupling constant and the effects of the properties of ordinary energy-momentum tensor in obtaining a 4-index gravity theory have been studied. We also address the results of building Weyl free 4-index gravity theory. Our study displays that both the Einstein and Rastall theories can be obtained as the subclasses of a 4-index gravity theory which shows the power of 4-index method in unifying various gravitational theories. It is also obtained that the violation of the energy-momentum conservation law may be allowed in 4-index gravity theory, and moreover, the contraction of 4-index theory generally admits a non-minimal coupling between geometry and matter field in the Rastall way. This study also shows that, unlike the Einstein case, the gravitational coupling constant of 4-index Rastall theory generally differs from that of the ordinary 2-index Rastall theory.