Ghost-free tensor Lagrangians and linearized gravitation

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1972 · Nucl. Phys., B, v. B60, no. 1, pp. 478-492

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0550-3213(73)90194-6· OSTI ID:4428490

van Nieuwenhuizen, P

The most general linear Lagrangian for massless and massive tensor fields without ghosts and tachyons is determined. Transversality is used to eliminate massless ghosts. The linear Einstein and Fierz-Pauli Lagrangians are unique for massless and massive tensor fields containing spin two. Hence, for gravitation, as for electromagnetism, gauge invariance and locality follow from positivity of the free-field energy. Symmetric and antisymmetric tensor theories with continuous zero-mass limit are found, but contain only spin one and spin zero. (auth)

• Research Organization: Laboratoire de Physique Theorique et Hautes Energies, Orsay, France
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-001983
• OSTI ID: 4428490
• Journal Information: Nucl. Phys., B, v. B60, no. 1, pp. 478-492, Journal Name: Nucl. Phys., B, v. B60, no. 1, pp. 478-492; ISSN NUPBB
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*GRAVITATION-- LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
FIERZ- PAULI THEORY
GAUGE INVARIANCE
LOCALITY
N76300* --Physics (Theoretical)--Gravitation & General Relativity
PROPAGATOR
TENSORS