Triviality of Higher Derivative Theories

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that certain higher derivative theories possess a BRST symmetry that removes negative norm states, leading to a trivial S-matrix but ensuring unitarity, with implications for quantum gravity and other systems.

Contribution

It reveals a novel BRST symmetry in higher derivative theories that ensures unitarity by eliminating negative norm states, resulting in a trivial S-matrix.

Findings

Negative norm states are removed from the physical sector.

A class of higher derivative quantum gravity theories exhibit this BRST symmetry.

The BRST symmetry may be present in both relativistic and non-relativistic systems.

Abstract

We show that some higher derivative theories have a BRST symmetry. This symmetry is due to the higher derivative structure and is not associated to any gauge invariance. If physical states are defined as those in the BRST cohomology then the only physical state is the vacuum. All negative norm states, characteristic of higher derivative theories, are removed from the physical sector. As a consequence, unitarity is recovered but the S-matrix is trivial. We show that a class of higher derivative quantum gravity theories have this BRST symmetry so that they are consistent as quantum field theories. Furthermore, this BRST symmetry may be present in both relativistic and non-relativistic systems.