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arxiv: 1506.02210 · v2 · submitted 2015-06-07 · ✦ hep-th

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The Theorem of Ostrogradsky

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classification ✦ hep-th
keywords ostrogradskyrestrictionattemptsconstructioncontinuumderivativediscussionevade
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Ostrogradsky's construction of a Hamiltonian formalism for nondegenerate higher derivative Lagrangians is reviewed. The resulting instability imposes by far the most powerful restriction on fundamental, interacting, continuum Lagrangian field theories. A discussion is given of the problems raised by attempts to evade this restriction.

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