English

Resolving the Ghost Problem in non-Linear Massive Gravity

High Energy Physics - Theory 2015-05-28 v3

Abstract

We analyze the ghost issue in the recently proposed models of non-linear massive gravity in the ADM formalism. We show that, in the entire two-parameter family of actions, the Hamiltonian constraint is maintained at the complete non-linear level and we argue for the existence of a non-trivial secondary constraint. This implies the absence of the pathological Boulware-Deser ghost to all orders. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the existence of a consistent theory of massive gravity at the complete non-linear level, in four dimensions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1106.3344,
  title  = {Resolving the Ghost Problem in non-Linear Massive Gravity},
  author = {S. F. Hassan and Rachel A. Rosen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1106.3344},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

4 pages, comments and reference added, version accepted for publication

R2 v1 2026-06-21T18:23:36.475Z