https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-014-3072-3
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Classical and quantum stability of higher-derivative dynamics
Physics Faculty, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
* e-mail: sharapov@phys.tsu.ru
Received:
15
August
2014
Accepted:
8
September
2014
Published online:
30
September
2014
We observe that a wide class of higher-derivative systems admits a bounded integral of motion that ensures the classical stability of dynamics, while the canonical energy is unbounded. We use the concept of a Lagrange anchor to demonstrate that the bounded integral of motion is connected with the time-translation invariance. A procedure is suggested for switching on interactions in free higher-derivative systems without breaking their stability. We also demonstrate the quantization technique that keeps the higher-derivative dynamics stable at quantum level. The general construction is illustrated by the examples of the Pais–Uhlenbeck oscillator, higher-derivative scalar field model, and the Podolsky electrodynamics. For all these models, the positive integrals of motion are explicitly constructed and the interactions are included such that they keep the system stable.
© SIF and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2014
