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An Introduction to Free Higher-Spin Fields

N. Bouatta·G. Compere·A. Sagnotti
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Abstract

In this article we begin by reviewing the (Fang-)Fronsdal construction and the non-local geometric equations with unconstrained gauge fields and parameters built by Francia and the senior author from the higher-spin curvatures of de Wit and Freedman. We then turn to the triplet structure of totally symmetric tensors that emerges from free String Field Theory in the $α' \to 0$ limit and to its generalization to (A)dS backgrounds, and conclude with a discussion of a simple local compensator form of the field equations that displays the unconstrained gauge symmetry of the non-local equations. Based on the lectures presented by A. Sagnotti at the First Solvay Workshop on Higher-Spin Gauge Theories held in Brussels on May 12-14, 2004

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N. Bouatta, G. Compere, A. Sagnotti. 2004-09-06. An Introduction to Free Higher-Spin Fields. https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0409068

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