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arxiv: 1710.11538 · v2 · submitted 2017-10-31 · ✦ hep-th

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Classical and Quantum Dynamics of Higher-Derivative Systems

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classification ✦ hep-th
keywords ghostssystemstheorybenignbulkclassicalhigher-derivativeabsent
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A brief review of the physics of systems including higher derivatives in the Lagrangian is given. All such systems involve ghosts, i.e. the spectrum of the Hamiltonian is not bounded from below and the vacuum ground state is absent. Usually this leads to collapse and loss of unitarity. In certain special cases, this does not happen, however: ghosts are benign. We speculate that the Theory of Everything is a higher-derivative field theory, characterized by the presence of such benign ghosts and defined in a higher-dimensional bulk. Our Universe represents then a classical solution in this theory, having the form of a 3-brane embedded in the bulk.

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Cited by 2 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Quantum mechanics with a ghost: Counterexamples to spectral denseness

    hep-th 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Ghostly quantum systems can have discrete non-dense energy spectra under classical stability conditions, providing counterexamples to spectral denseness.

  2. Unitary Time Evolution and Vacuum for a Quantum Stable Ghost

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    A quantum ghost coupled polynomially to a harmonic oscillator has unitary evolution and a stable vacuum because a conserved quantity possesses a positive discrete spectrum.