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The Ostrogradsky instability can be overcome by quantum physics

High Energy Physics - Theory 2021-08-25 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology

Abstract

In theories with higher time derivatives, the Hamiltonian analysis of Ostrogradsky predicts an instability. However, this Hamiltonian treatment does not correspond the way that these theories are treated in quantum field theory, and the instability may be avoided in at least some cases. We present a very simple model which illustrates these features.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2105.00898,
  title  = {The Ostrogradsky instability can be overcome by quantum physics},
  author = {John F Donoghue and Gabriel Menezes},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2105.00898},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

11 pages, 2 figures Some references and comments added

R2 v1 2026-06-24T01:44:03.326Z