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Eisenhart lift for higher derivative systems

High Energy Physics - Theory 2016-12-07 v2 Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

The Eisenhart lift provides an elegant geometric description of a dynamical system of second order in terms of null geodesics of the Brinkmann-type metric. In this work, we attempt to generalize the Eisenhart method so as to encompass higher derivative models. The analysis relies upon Ostrogradsky's Hamiltonian. A consistent geometric description seems feasible only for a particular class of potentials. The scheme is exemplified by the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1611.04294,
  title  = {Eisenhart lift for higher derivative systems},
  author = {Anton Galajinsky and Ivan Masterov},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1611.04294},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

V2: 12 pages, minor improvements, references added; the version to appear in PLB