BIANCHI IDENTITIES, ELECTROMAGNETIC-WAVES, AND CHARGE CONSERVATION INTHE P(4) THEORY OF GRAVITATION AND ELECTROMAGNETISM

The Bianchi identities for the P(4) = O(1, 3) x R4 theory of gravitat ion and electromagnetism are decomposed into the standard O(1, 3) Riem annian Bianchi identity plus an additional R4 component. When combine d with the Einstein-Maxwell affine field equations the R4 Components of the p(4) Bianchi identities imply conservation of magnetic charge a nd the wave equation for the Maxwell field strength tensor. These resu lts are analyzed in light of the special geometrical postulates of the P(4) theory. We show that our development is the analog of the manner in which the Riemannian Bianchi identities, when combined with Einste in's field equations, imply conservation of stress-energy-momentum and the wave equation for the Lanczos H-tensor.