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A vierbein is a local orthonormal coframe, consisting of four linearly independent covectors $e^{\mu }{}_a$ such thatHere $a,b$ label spacetime coordinates, while $\mu ,\nu$ label a Lorentz frame with $\eta =\mathrm{diag}(-1,1,1,1)$. Its inverse $e_{\mu }{}^a$ obeys $e_{\mu }{}^a{e}^{\mu }{}_b={\delta }_b^a$ and $e_{\mu }{}^a{e}^{\nu }{}_a={\delta }_{\mu }^{\nu }$. The vierbein converts tensor indices between the coordinate and orthonormal descriptions.

The metric is unchanged under an arbitrary local Lorentz transformation $e^{\mu }{}_a\mapsto {\Lambda }^{\mu }{}_{\nu }(x)e^{\nu }{}_a$, since ${\Lambda }^T\eta \Lambda =\eta$. This is local frame redundancy, with corresponding transformations of fields and connections; it is distinct from coordinate diffeomorphism covariance. A generic curved spacetime does not have global Lorentz isometries. Rather, local tangent frames have Lorentz freedom, and the field equations can be written covariantly under their changes. On flat spacetime, global Lorentz transformations are also spacetime isometries.

A spinor field is a section of the spinor bundle associated to a spin structure. Local components transform in a Spinor representation of the Lorentz group, more precisely a representation of its spin double cover. For the proper orthochronous group in four dimensions, that cover is ${\mathrm{Spin}}^{+}(1,3)\simeq SL(2,\mathbb{C})$. Thus a spinor field transforms as $ϵ\mapsto S(\Lambda )ϵ$ under frame changes, rather than as a coordinate-index tensor. The double-valued lift of a frame rotation requires a consistent spin structure globally; local spinor calculations alone do not choose that global structure. One can use a Dirac spinor for the gamma-matrix calculation below.

Write ${\omega }_a{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu }$ for the Lorentz-frame spin connection. Expanding the tetrad postulate givesMultiply by the inverse vierbein to solve for the connection:With the torsion-free Levi-Civita connection, metric compatibility makes ${\omega }_{a\mu \nu }={\eta }_{\mu \rho }{\omega }_a{}^{\rho }{}_{\nu }$ antisymmetric in $\mu ,\nu$. For constant flat gamma matrices obeying $\{{\hat{\gamma }}^{\mu },{\hat{\gamma }}^{\nu }\}=2{\eta }^{\mu \nu }$, define ${\hat{\gamma }}^{\mu \nu }=[{\hat{\gamma }}^{\mu },{\hat{\gamma }}^{\nu }]/2$. The spinor covariant derivative isUnder a local Lorentz transformation, the matrix connection acquires the inhomogeneous term needed to make ${\nabla }_aϵ$ transform as a spinor. The derivative of the vierbein in the boxed formula is therefore essential.

For the conformally flat metric, choose $e^{\mu }{}_a=\Omega {\delta }^{\mu }{}_a$ and $e_{\mu }{}^a={\Omega }^{-1}{\delta }_{\mu }^a$. Let ${\ell }_a={\partial }_a\log \Omega$ and raise these coordinate indices temporarily with the flat metric $\eta$. Directly evaluating the Christoffel symbols givesSince ${\partial }_a{e}^{\mu }{}_b=\Omega {\ell }_a{\delta }_b^{\mu }$, the connection formula yieldsThis is the spin connection of a conformally flat metric in the specified conformal frame. It is frame dependent, unlike an invariant curvature tensor.

Set $L={\hat{\gamma }}^c{\ell }_c$. Antisymmetry of $\omega$ makes its action on spinorsFor $ϵ={\Omega }^{1/2}{ϵ}_0$ with ${\partial }_a{ϵ}_0=0$, we have ${\partial }_aϵ={\ell }_aϵ/2$. The Clifford algebra gives $\{{\hat{\gamma }}_a,L\}=2{\ell }_a$, soThe curved gamma matrices are ${\gamma }_a=\Omega {\hat{\gamma }}_a$ and ${\gamma }^a={\Omega }^{-1}{\hat{\gamma }}^a$. ConsequentlyThus the rescaled field is a twistor spinor. Multiplying this last equation by ${\gamma }_b$, symmetrizing in $a,b$ and using $\{{\gamma }_a,{\gamma }_b\}=2g_{ab}$ provesThis is the conformal rescaling of a parallel spinor to a twistor spinor. It does not claim that the rescaled spinor remains parallel in the conformal metric; the nonzero connection and the derivative of ${\Omega }^{1/2}$ combine precisely into its gamma-trace part.

Use geometric units $G=c=1$, metric signature $(-+++)$, and a four-velocity normalized by the physical metric. Write $\varphi =1+\Phi$, where $|\Phi |\ll 1$. For a pressureless perfect fluid, the dust stress-energy tensor is $T_{ij}=\rho U_i{U}_j$ and $g^{ij}{U}_i{U}_j=-1$. Since ${\eta }^{ij}={\varphi }^2{g}^{ij}$, its background trace isConsequently the field equation is $(-{\partial }_t^2+\Delta )\varphi =4\pi \rho {\varphi }^3$. Neglecting time derivatives and higher weak-field orders gives the Newtonian limit of Nordstrom gravity:The constant shift between $\varphi$ and $\Phi$ does not affect the Poisson equation or the force. Here $\rho$ is the physical rest density; if fluid indices are instead defined using the background metric, the intermediate powers of $\varphi$ change but the same leading-order equation results.

For the motion, the Levi-Civita connection of the conformally flat metric isIn particular ${\Gamma }^{\alpha }{}_{00}={\partial }_{\alpha }\log \varphi$. Replacing the affine parameter in the geodesic equation by coordinate time gives, with $w^i=(1,\mathbf{v})$ and $\mathbf{v}=d\mathbf{x}/dt$,At small speeds and for a nearly static field, this becomesThus the Newtonian gravitational potential and freely falling trajectories agree to the stated weak-field, slow-motion order. The comparison is an approximation, not an exact equivalence of relativistic trajectories.

An affinely parameterized geodesic $x^{\mu }(\lambda )$ satisfiesFor the conformally flat metric $g_{\mu \nu }={\phi }^2{\eta }_{\mu \nu }$, its Christoffel symbols areLet $u^{\mu }=d{x}^{\mu }/d\lambda$. Along a null geodesic, ${\eta }_{\alpha \beta }{u}^{\alpha }{u}^{\beta }=0$, so the equation reduces toThe acceleration is parallel to the tangent. A change of parameter removes it, leaving a straight null line of the Minkowski metric. Thus conformal rescaling changes the affine parameter but not the unparametrized light ray.

Consequently Nordstrom theory of gravitation predictsfor light passing a star. This contradicts the observed nonzero deflection and the successful general-relativistic value $4GM/(b{c}^2)$.

For a spatial initial slice with vanishing extrinsic curvature, the vacuum momentum constraint is automatic and the Hamiltonian constraint requires zero Ricci scalar. In three spatial dimensions, the indicated conformally flat metric has $\mathcal{R}=-8{\psi }^{-5}\Delta \psi$, with a nonzero conformal factor. Thus a harmonic function supplies the data on its domain. A positive example is $\psi =1+a/r$ on a punctured or exterior region. There is no nonconstant globally smooth example on all of Euclidean three-space tending to one at infinity, by the maximum principle for harmonic functions. Time symmetry of an initial slice does not imply that its entire evolved spacetime is static.

Every conformally flat metric in dimension at least four has identically zero Weyl tensor. The Weyl tensor is the obstruction to local conformal flatness in dimensions at least four.