Related papers: Fourth Order Theories Without Ghosts
In this work we develop a theoretical framework for Gauss-Bonnet modified gravity theories, in which ghost modes can be eliminated at the equations of motion level. Particularly, after we present how the ghosts can occur at the level of…
We argue that Lee-Wick's complex ghost appearing in any higher derivative theory is stable and its asymptotic field exists. It may be more appropriate to call it ``anti-unstable" in the sense that, the more the ghost `decays' into lighter…
We perform a fully relativistic analysis of odd-type linear perturbations around a static and spherically symmetric solution in the most general scalar-tensor theory with second-order field equations in four-dimensional spacetime. It is…
In this paper we construct a class of Degenerate Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor (DHOST) theories with an extra scalar field, which admits viable solutions of bouncing universe satisfying the following requirements: (i) absence of…
We show that the simplest non commutative renormalizable field theory, the $\phi^4$ model on four dimensional Moyal space with harmonic potential is asymptotically safe to all orders in perturbation theory
In the DGP model, the ``self-accelerating'' solution is plagued by a ghost instability, which makes the solution untenable. This fact as well as all interesting departures from GR are fully captured by a four-dimensional effective…
We suggest and briefly review a new sort of superrenormalizable models of higher derivative quantum gravity. The higher derivative terms in the action can be introduced in such a way that all the unphysical massive states have complex…
We study the stability of theories where the gravitational action has arbitrary algebraic dependence on the three first traces of the Riemann tensor: the Ricci tensor, the co-Ricci tensor, and the homothetic curvature tensor. We…
We provide a complete classification of all abelian gauge invariant $p$-form theories with equations of motion depending only on the second derivative of the field---the $p$-form analogues of the Galileon scalar field theory. We construct…
The regularized four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet model has been recently proposed in [D. Glavan and C. Lin, Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{124}, 081301 (2020)] whose formulation is different of the Einstein theory, allowing us to bypass the…
We construct Born-Infeld (BI) type gravity theories which describe tree-level unitary (non-ghost and non-tachyonic) massless spin-2 modes around their maximally symmetric vacua in four dimensions. Building unitary BI actions around flat…
Poincar\'e gauge theories provide an approach to gravity based on the gauging of the Poincar\'e group, whose homogeneous part generates curvature while the translational sector gives rise to torsion. In this note we revisit the stability of…
A systematic method is presented for determining the conditions on the parameters in the action of a parity-preserving gauge theory of gravity for it to contain no ghost or tachyon particles. The technique naturally accommodates critical…
The Fourth order $\phi^4$ model generalizes the classical $\phi^4$ model of quantum field theory, sharing the same kink solution. It is also the dispersive counterpart of the well-known parabolic Cahn-Hilliard equation. Mathematically…
Exotic General Massive Gravity is the next-to-simplest gravitational theory fulfilling the so-called third-way consistency, the simplest being Minimal Massive Gravity. We investigate the canonical structure of the first-order formulation of…
Bi-tensor kernel in integral form of Einstein equations realizing Mach's idea of non-existence of empty space-times is taken as an inverse of differential operator ("Mach operator") defined conventionally as a second variation of Einstein's…
In this paper we study the most general covariant action of gravity up to terms that are quadratic in curvature. In particular this includes non-local, infinite derivative theories of gravity which are ghost-free and exhibit asymptotic…
Quantum field theories (QFTs) including fourth-derivative terms such as the Lee-Wick finite QED and quadratic gravity have a better ultra-violet behavior compared to standard theories with second-derivative ones, but the existence of ghost…
The effective field theory of massive gravity had long been formulated in a generally covariant way arXiv:hep-th/0210184. Using this formalism, it has been found recently that there exists a class of massive nonlinear theories that are free…
Ostrogradsky's method allows one to construct Hamiltonian formulation for a higher derivative system. An application of this approach to the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator yields the Hamiltonian which is unbounded from below. This leads to the…