Variational field equations of a Majorana neutrino coupled to Einstein's theory of general relativity

Abstract

A consistent variational derivation of the Majorana 4-spinor field equations coupled to Einstein's theory of gravitation is given. The equivalence of the first and the second order variational field equations is explicitly demonstrated. The Lagrange multiplier 2-forms we use turn out to be precisely the Belinfante-Rosenfeld 2-forms that are needed to symmetrize the canonical energy-momentum tensor of the Majorana spinor.