Schrödinger connection with selfdual nonmetricity vector in 2+1 dimensions

Abstract: We present a three-dimensional metric affine theory of gravity whose field equations lead to a connection introduced by Schr\"odinger many decades ago. Although involving nonmetricity, the Schr\"odinger connection preserves the length of vectors under parallel transport, and appears thus to be more physical than the one proposed by Weyl. By considering solutions with constant scalar curvature, we obtain a self-duality relation for the nonmetricity vector which implies a Proca equation that may also be interpreted in terms of inhomogeneous Maxwell equations emerging from affine geometry.