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arXiv · 1809.03957

Higher derivative three-form gauge theories and their supersymmetric extension

Muneto Nitta·Ryo Yokokura
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Abstract

We investigate three-form gauge theories with higher derivative interactions and their supersymmetric extensions in four space-time dimensions. For the bosonic three-form gauge theories, we show that derivatives on the field strength of the 3-form gauge field yield a tachyon as far as the Lagrangian contains a quadratic kinetic term, while such the term with opposite sign gives rise to a ghost. We confirm that there is neither a tachyon nor a ghost when all higher derivative terms are given by functions of the field strength. For this ghost/tachyon-free Lagrangian, we determine the boundary term necessary for the consistency between the equation of motion and energy-momentum tensor. For supersymmetric extensions, we present ghost/tachyon-free higher derivative interactions of arbitrary order of the field strength and corresponding boundary terms as well.

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Muneto Nitta, Ryo Yokokura. 2018-10-26. Higher derivative three-form gauge theories and their supersymmetric extension. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep10(2018)146

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