The $T^{μν}$ of the conformal scalars

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Authors: Cristofero S. Fraser‐Taliente, Ludo Fraser-Taliente
Cited by: 0

Abstract

We construct the unique primary energy-momentum tensor $T^{μν}$ for the conformal free scalar with scaling dimension $Δ=d/2-ζ$ as a sum of Gegenbauer polynomials. For integer $ζ$, the sum truncates at order $ζ$, compactly reproducing all known results; for the nonlocal case of real $ζ$, it is an infinite sum, with a two-parameter extension that reflects the nonuniqueness of the nonlocal geometric coupling. We find $T^{μν}$ by imposing off-shell conservation and tracelessness, and then directly solving the primary condition in momentum space. In the integer $ζ$ case, we reproduce the known two-point function, and confirm the match with the $T^{μν}$ computed from Juhl's formulae for the GJMS operators (the Weyl-covariant upgrades of $(-\partial^2)^ζ$), an equality following from the descent of Weyl covariance to conformal invariance.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Black Holes and Theoretical Physics Relativity and Gravitational Theory Algebraic structures and combinatorial models

Publication details

Journal / source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Publication date
8 January 2026
Document type
Preprint