On manifolds admitting the consistent Lagrangian formulation for higher spin fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which a consistent Lagrangian formulation for free higher spin bosonic fields exists, concluding it is only possible in constant curvature Riemann spaces.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a consistent Lagrangian formulation for higher spin fields requires the background space to have constant curvature, ruling out more general geometries.

Findings

Lagrangian formulation exists only in constant curvature spaces.

The algebra of constraints closes only in constant curvature backgrounds.

No nontrivial coupling to third rank tensors or vector fields in the consistent formulation.

Abstract

We study a possibility of Lagrangian formulation for free higher spin bosonic totally symmetric tensor field on the background manifold characterizing by the arbitrary metric, vector and third rank tensor fields in framework of BRST approach. Assuming existence of massless and flat limits in the Lagrangian and using the most general form of the operators of constraints we show that the algebra generated by these operators will be closed only for constant curvature space with no nontrivial coupling to the third rank tensor and the strength of the vector fields. This result finally proves that the consistent Lagrangian formulation at the conditions under consideration is possible only in constant curvature Riemann space.