Dirac Equation in Space–Time with Torsion

Abstract

The Dirac equation in a curved space–time endowed with compatible affine connection is reconsidered. After a detailed decomposition of the total action, the equation is obtained by varying with respect to the Dirac spinor and the torsion field. The result is a known Dirac-like equation with constraints that can be interpreted as the equation of a self-interacting spin 1/2 particle in curved space–time. The scheme is then translated into the language of the 2-spinor formalism of curved space–time based on the choice of a null tetrad frame. The spinorial equation so obtained coincides with the standard one in case of no torsion, while in general it remains a nonlinear equation describing a self-interacting spin 1/2 particle. The nonlinearity is produced by the interaction of the particle with its own current that remains conserved as in the free torsion case.