Quartet unconstrained formulation for massless higher spin fields

2007/02/28 by I. L. Buchbinder, Anton Galajinsky, A. V. Galajinsky +2 · 3 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #BRST quantization #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Gauge theory #Invariant (physics) #Massless particle #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Numerical methods for differential equations #Physics #Simple (philosophy) #Spin (aerodynamics) #Theoretical physics #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2007.03.032

published as Nucl.Phys.B779:155-177,2007 · V4: 27 pages; references and acknowledgement added

openalex publication_date 2007/04/25 · arxiv created 2007/07/23 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We construct simple unconstrained Lagrangian formulations for massless higher spin fields in flat space of arbitrary dimension and on anti de Sitter background. Starting from the triplet equations of Francia and Sagnotti, which describe a chain of spin modes, we introduce an auxiliary field and find appropriate gauge invariant constraints that single out the spin-s mode. The resulting quartet of fields, thus describing an irreducible representation of the Poincare group, is used to construct simple Lagrangian formulations, which are local, free from higher derivative terms and use equal number of auxiliary fields for an unconstrained description of any value of spin. Our method proves to be most efficient for an unconstrained description of massless higher spin fermions in anti de Sitter space. A relation of the minimal models with the universal BRST approach is discussed.

Citations

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Cited by

• Local action for fermionic unconstrained higher spin gauge fields in AdS and dS spacetimes
• Lagrangian formulation of massive fermionic higher spin fields on a constant electromagnetic background
• Supersymmetric continuous spin gauge theory