Teleparallel Geometry with a Single Affine Symmetry

Abstract: In teleparallel geometries, symmetries are represented by affine frame symmetries which constrain both the (co)frame basis and the spin-connection (which are the primary geometric objects). In this paper we shall study teleparallel geometries with a single affine symmetry, utilizing the locally Lorentz covariant approach and adopting a complex null gauge. We first introduce an algorithm to study geometries with an affine frame symmetry, which consists of choosing coordinates adapted to the symmetry, constructing a canonical frame, and solving the equations describing the symmetry. %for the spin connection (to determine the six real Lorentz functions. All of the constraints on the geometry are determined in the case of a single affine symmetry, but there are additional constraints arising from the field equations for a given theory of teleparallel gravity. In particular, we find that in $f(T)$ teleparallel gravity there will be severe constraints on the geometry arising from the antisymmetric part of the field equations.