Conformal connection

In conformal differential geometry, a conformal connection is a Cartan connection on an n-dimensional manifold M arising as a deformation of the Klein geometry given by the celestial n-sphere, viewed as the homogeneous space

O⁺(n+1,1)/P

where P is the stabilizer of a fixed null line through the origin in Rⁿ⁺², in the orthochronous Lorentz group O⁺(n+1,1) in n+2 dimensions. Any manifold equipped with a conformal structure has a canonical conformal connection called the normal Cartan connection.

Formal definition

A conformal connection on an n-manifold M is a Cartan geometry modelled on the conformal sphere, where the latter is viewed as a homogeneous space for O⁺(n+1,1). In other words it is an O⁺(n+1,1)-bundle equipped with

• a O⁺(n+1,1)-connection (the Cartan connection)
• a reduction of structure group to the stabilizer of a point in the conformal sphere (a null line in R^n+1,1)

such that the solder form induced by these data is an isomorphism.

External links

• Ü. Lumiste (2001), "Conformal connection", in Hazewinkel, Michiel, Encyclopedia of Mathematics, Springer, ISBN 978-1-55608-010-4