Abstract. The configuration space of general relativity is superspace—the space of all Riemannian 3-metrics modulo diffeomorphisms. However, it has been argued that the configuration space for gravity should be conformal superspace—the space of all Riemannian 3-metrics modulo diffeomorphisms and conformal transformations. Recently a manifestly three-dimensional theory was constructed with conformal superspace as the configuration space. Here a fully four-dimensional action is constructed so as to be invariant under conformal transformations of the 4-metric using general relativity as a guide. This action is then decomposed to a (3 + 1)-dimensional form and from this to its Jacobi form. The surprising thing is that the new theory turns out to be precisely the original three-dimensional theory. The physical data are identified and used to find the physical representation of the theory. In this representation the theory is extremely similar to general relativity. The clarity of the four-dimensional picture should prove very useful for comparing the theory with those aspects of general relativity which are usually treated in the four-dimensional framework.

PACS numbers: 04.20.Cv, 04.20.Fy

Print publication: Issue 2 (21 January 2004)
Received 21 July 2003, in final form 22 October 2003
Published 5 December 2003