Work

Reflection positivity in a higher-derivative model with physical bound states of ghosts

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A bstract The inclusion of higher derivatives is a necessary condition for a renormalizable or superrenormalizable local theory of quantum gravity. On the other hand, higher derivatives lead to classical instabilities and a loss of unitarity at the quantum level. A standard way to detect such issues is by examining the reflection positivity condition and the existence of a Källén-Lehmann spectral representation for the two-point function. We demonstrate that these requirements for a consistent quantum theory are satisfied in a theory we have recently proposed. This theory is based on a six-derivative scalar field action featuring a pair of complex-mass ghost fields that form a bound state. Our results support the interpretation that physical observables can emerge from ghost dynamics in a consistent and unitary framework.

Source: Journal of High Energy Physics

DOI: 10.1007/jhep02(2026)020

Authors: Manuel Asorey, Gastão Krein, Miguel Pardina, Ilya L. Shapiro

Institutions: Universidad de Zaragoza, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

Language: English

Topic: Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond