CFT adapted gauge invariant formulation of arbitrary spin fields in AdS and modified de Donder gauge

TL;DR

This paper develops a gauge invariant formulation for arbitrary spin massless fields in AdS space, utilizing a CFT adapted approach, ladder operators, and a modified de Donder gauge to simplify equations of motion.

Contribution

It introduces a new gauge invariant formulation for massless higher-spin fields in AdS, connecting it with Stueckelberg methods and providing a simplified gauge fixing approach.

Findings

Gauge symmetries expressed via ladder operators.

Modified de Donder gauge yields decoupled, solvable equations.

Realization of AdS symmetries in conformal algebra basis.

Abstract

Using Poincare parametrization of AdS space, we study totally symmetric arbitrary spin massless fields in AdS space of dimension greater than or equal to four. CFT adapted gauge invariant formulation for such fields is developed. Gauge symmetries are realized similarly to the ones of Stueckelberg formulation of massive fields. We demonstrate that the curvature and radial coordinate contributions to the gauge transformation and Lagrangian of the AdS fields can be expressed in terms of ladder operators. Realization of the global AdS symmetries in the conformal algebra basis is obtained. Modified de Donder gauge leading to simple gauge fixed Lagrangian is found. The modified de Donder gauge leads to decoupled equations of motion which can easily be solved in terms of Bessel function. Interrelations between our approach to the massless AdS fields and the Stueckelberg approach to massive fields in flat space are discussed.