New canonical analysis for higher order topologically massive gravity

TL;DR

This paper performs a comprehensive constraint analysis of higher-order topologically massive gravity, revealing a new constraint structure and comparing it with previous Ostrogradski-based approaches.

Contribution

It introduces a novel canonical analysis framework for higher-order topologically massive gravity, improving understanding of its constraint structure and degrees of freedom.

Findings

New constraint structure identified

Comparison with Ostrogradski framework conducted

Clarified degrees of freedom in the theory

Abstract

A detailed Gitman-Lyakhovich-Tyutin analysis for higher-order topologically massive gravity is performed. The full structure of the constraints, the counting of physical degrees of freedom, and the Dirac algebra among the constraints are reported. Moreover, our analysis presents a new structure of the constraints and we compare our results with those reported in the literature where a standard Ostrogradski framework was developed.