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Higher derivative theories with constraints : Exorcising Ostrogradski's Ghost

High Energy Physics - Theory 2013-06-04 v4 Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

We prove that the linear instability in a non-degenerate higher derivative theory, the Ostrogradski instability, can only be removed by the addition of constraints if the original theory's phase space is reduced.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1209.0583,
  title  = {Higher derivative theories with constraints : Exorcising Ostrogradski's Ghost},
  author = {Tai-jun Chen and Matteo Fasiello and Eugene A. Lim and Andrew J. Tolley},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1209.0583},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

17 pages, no figures, version published in JCAP