A unifying framework for ghost-free Lorentz-invariant Lagrangian field theories

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETB.2017.06.073MaRDI QIDQ1707901zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors W. Li

Publication date 4 April 2018

Published in Physics Letters B (Search for Journal in Brave)

Copyright license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1508.03247

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Yang-Mills and other gauge theories in mechanics of particles and systems (70S15)

Abstract: We propose a framework for Lorentz-invariant Lagrangian field theories where Ostrogradsky's scalar ghosts could be absent. A key ingredient is the generalized Kronecker delta. The general Lagrangians are reformulated in the language of differential forms. The absence of higher order equations of motion for the scalar modes stems from the basic fact that every exact form is closed. The well-established Lagrangian theories for spin-0, spin-1, p-form, spin-2 fields have natural formulations in this framework. We also propose novel building blocks for Lagrangian field theories. Some of them are novel nonlinear derivative terms for spin-2 fields. It is nontrivial that Ostrogradsky's scalar ghosts are absent in these fully nonlinear theories.

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Cites work

• New kinetic terms for massive gravity and multi-gravity: a no-go in vielbein form
• The Einstein Tensor and Its Generalizations

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(5)

• Ghost equations and diffeomorphism-invariant theories
• Lorentz-covariant and gauge-invariant instantaneous vacuum for external field problems
• Gravity as a gapless phase and biform symmetries
• Field redefinition invariant Lagrange multiplier formalism
• Higher derivative field theories: degeneracy conditions and classes

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