Higher-Derivative Boson Field Theories and Constrained Second-Order Theories

As an alternative to the covariant Ostrogradski method, we show that higher-derivative relativistic Lagrangian field theories can be reduced to second differential-order by writing them directly as covariant two-derivative theories involving Lagrange multipliers and new fields. Despite the intrinsic non-covariance of the Dirac's procedure used to deal with the constraints, the explicit Lorentz invariance is recovered at the end. We develop this new setting on the grounds of a simple scalar model and then its applications to generalized electrodynamics and higher-derivative gravity are worked out. For a wide class of field theories this method is better suited than Ostrogradski's for a generalization to 2n-derivative theoriesComment: 31 pages, Plain Te

Magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles as theranostic platforms for magnetic resonance imaging, drug delivery and NIR hyperthermia applications

PEGylated magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles with a hollow or semi-hollow interior have been successfully synthesized and their physico-chemical characteristics have been investigated. The hollow interior space can be used to store drugs or other molecules of interest whereas magnetic characterization shows their potential as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. In addition, their plasmonic characteristics in the near infrared (NIR) region make them efficient in photothermal applications producing high temperature gradients after short irradiation times. We show that by controlling the etching conditions the inner silica shell can be selectively dissolved to achieve a hollow or semi-hollow interior without compromising the magnetic or plasmonic characteristics of the resulting nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements and transmission electron microscopy observations have been used to demonstrate the precise control during the etching process and to select an optimal concentration of the etching reagent and contact time to preserve the inner superparamagnetic iron oxide-based nanoparticles and the plasmonic properties of the constructs. Drug loading capabilities were also evaluated for both semi-hollow and as-synthesized nanoparticles using Rhodamine B isothiocyanate as a model compound. The nanoparticles produced could be potentially used as “theranostic” nanoparticles with both imaging capabilities and a dual therapeutic function (drug delivery and hyperthermia)

Gauge Fixing in Higher Derivative Gravity

Linearized four-derivative gravity with a general gauge fixing term is considered. By a Legendre transform and a suitable diagonalization procedure it is cast into a second-order equivalent form where the nature of the physical degrees of freedom, the gauge ghosts, the Weyl ghosts, and the intriguing "third ghosts", characteristic to higher-derivative theories, is made explicit. The symmetries of the theory and the structure of the compensating Faddeev-Popov ghost sector exhibit non-trivial peculiarities.Comment: 21 pages, LaTe

Higher Derivative Operators from Scherk-Schwarz Supersymmetry Breaking on T^2/Z_2

In orbifold compactifications on T^2/Z_2 with Scherk-Schwarz supersymmetry breaking, it is shown that (brane-localised) superpotential interactions and (bulk) gauge interactions generate at one-loop higher derivative counterterms to the mass of the brane (or zero-mode of the bulk) scalar field. These brane-localised operators are generated by integrating out the bulk modes of the initial theory which, although supersymmetric, is nevertheless non-renormalisable. It is argued that such operators, of non-perturbative origin and not protected by non-renormalisation theorems, are generic in orbifold compactifications and play a crucial role in the UV behaviour of the two-point Green function of the scalar field self-energy. Their presence in the action with unknown coefficients prevents one from making predictions about physics at (momentum) scales close to/above the compactification scale(s). Our results extend to the case of two dimensional orbifolds, previous findings for S^1/Z_2 and S^1/(Z_2 x Z_2') compactifications where brane-localised higher derivative operators are also dynamically generated at loop level, regardless of the details of the supersymmetry breaking mechanism. We stress the importance of these operators for the hierarchy and the cosmological constant problems in compactified theories.Comment: 23 pages, LaTeX, one figure, published version in JHE

Ostrogradski Formalism for Higher-Derivative Scalar Field Theories

We carry out the extension of the Ostrogradski method to relativistic field theories. Higher-derivative Lagrangians reduce to second differential-order with one explicit independent field for each degree of freedom. We consider a higher-derivative relativistic theory of a scalar field and validate a powerful order-reducing covariant procedure by a rigorous phase-space analysis. The physical and ghost fields appear explicitly. Our results strongly support the formal covariant methods used in higher-derivative gravity.Comment: 22 page

Living with Ghosts and their Radiative Corrections

The role of higher derivative operators in 4D effective field theories is discussed in both non-supersymmetric and supersymmetric contexts. The approach, formulated in the Minkowski space-time, shows that theories with higher derivative operators do not always have an improved UV behaviour, due to subtleties related to the analytical continuation from the Minkowski to the Euclidean metric. This continuation is further affected at the dynamical level due to a field-dependence of the poles of the Green functions of the particle-like states, for curvatures of the potential of order unity in ghost mass units. The one-loop scalar potential in lambda*phi^4 theory with a single higher derivative term is shown to have infinitely many counterterms, while for a very large mass of the ghost the usual 4D renormalisation is recovered. In the supersymmetric context of the O'Raifeartaigh model of spontaneous supersymmetry breaking with a higher derivative (supersymmetric) operator, it is found that quadratic divergences are present in the one-loop self-energy of the scalar field. They arise with a coefficient proportional to the amount of supersymmetry breaking and suppressed by the scale of the higher derivative operator. This is also true in the Wess-Zumino model with higher derivatives and explicit soft breaking of supersymmetry. In both models, the UV logarithmic behaviour is restored in the decoupling limit of the ghost.Comment: 28 pages, 3 figures; added reference

A Superspace Formulation of The BV Action for Higher Derivative Theories

We first analyze the anti-BRST and double BRST structures of a certain higher derivative theory that has been known to possess BRST symmetry associated with its higher derivative structure. We discuss the invariance of this theory under shift symmetry in the Batalin Vilkovisky (BV) formalism. We show that the action for this theory can be written in a manifestly extended BRST invariant manner in superspace formalism using one Grassmann coordinate. It can also be written in a manifestly extended BRST invariant manner and on-shell manifestly extended anti-BRST invariant manner in superspace formalism using two Grassmann coordinates.Comment: accepted for publication in EPJ

Functional Lagrange formalism for time-non-local Lagrangians

We develop a time-non-local (TNL) formalism based on variational calculus, which allows for the analysis of TNL Lagrangians. We derive the generalized Euler-Lagrange equations starting from the Hamilton's principle and, by defining a generalized momentum, we introduce the corresponding Hamiltonian formalism. We apply the formalism to second order TNL Lagrangians and we show that it reproduces standard results in the time-local limit. An example will show how the formalism works, and will provide an interesting insight on the non-standard features of TNL equations.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure

Shell Model in the Complex Energy Plane

This work reviews foundations and applications of the complex-energy continuum shell model that provides a consistent many-body description of bound states, resonances, and scattering states. The model can be considered a quasi-stationary open quantum system extension of the standard configuration interaction approach for well-bound (closed) systems.Comment: Topical Review, J. Phys. G, Nucl. Part. Phys, in press (2008