A model independent ultraviolet cutoff for theories with charged massive higher spin fields

Massimo Porrati; Rakibur Rahman

doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2009.02.010

A model independent ultraviolet cutoff for theories with charged massive higher spin fields

Massimo Porrati, Rakibur Rahman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We argue that the theory of a massive higher spin field coupled to electromagnetism in flat space possesses an intrinsic, model independent, finite upper bound on its UV cutoff. By employing the Stückelberg formalism we do a systematic study to quantify the degree of singularity of the massless limit in the cases of spin 2, 3, 3/2, and 5/2. We then generalize the results for arbitrary spin to find an expression for the maximum cutoff of the theory as a function of the particle's mass, spin, and electric charge. We also briefly explain the physical implications of the result and discuss how it could be sharpened by use of causality constraints.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	370-404
Number of pages	35
Journal	Nuclear Physics B
Volume	814
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2009.02.010
State	Published - Jun 11 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2009.02.010

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title = "A model independent ultraviolet cutoff for theories with charged massive higher spin fields",

abstract = "We argue that the theory of a massive higher spin field coupled to electromagnetism in flat space possesses an intrinsic, model independent, finite upper bound on its UV cutoff. By employing the St{\"u}ckelberg formalism we do a systematic study to quantify the degree of singularity of the massless limit in the cases of spin 2, 3, 3/2, and 5/2. We then generalize the results for arbitrary spin to find an expression for the maximum cutoff of the theory as a function of the particle's mass, spin, and electric charge. We also briefly explain the physical implications of the result and discuss how it could be sharpened by use of causality constraints.",

author = "Massimo Porrati and Rakibur Rahman",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank J. Polchinski, L. Rastelli, and J. Schwarz for useful comments. M.P. is supported in part by NSF grants PHY-0245068 and PHY-0758032. R.R. is partially supported by James Arthur graduate fellowship. ",

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T1 - A model independent ultraviolet cutoff for theories with charged massive higher spin fields

AU - Porrati, Massimo

AU - Rahman, Rakibur

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank J. Polchinski, L. Rastelli, and J. Schwarz for useful comments. M.P. is supported in part by NSF grants PHY-0245068 and PHY-0758032. R.R. is partially supported by James Arthur graduate fellowship.

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AB - We argue that the theory of a massive higher spin field coupled to electromagnetism in flat space possesses an intrinsic, model independent, finite upper bound on its UV cutoff. By employing the Stückelberg formalism we do a systematic study to quantify the degree of singularity of the massless limit in the cases of spin 2, 3, 3/2, and 5/2. We then generalize the results for arbitrary spin to find an expression for the maximum cutoff of the theory as a function of the particle's mass, spin, and electric charge. We also briefly explain the physical implications of the result and discuss how it could be sharpened by use of causality constraints.

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