arXiv subjects

Ichiro Oda

Publications and source records attributed to Ichiro Oda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Massive Ghost Confinement, Dipole Equation and Multipole States in Quadratic Gravity

We investigate the problem of confinement of massive ghost, which violates the unitarity of the physical S-matrix, in quadratic gravity on the basis of a manifestly covariant and local canonical operator formalism. First, we reconsider the manifestly covariant quantization of quadratic gravity in the de Donder gauge (the harmonic gauge) from the viewpoint of dipole fields. Next, we also reconsider a possible mechanism of confinement of the massive ghost and derive an effective Lagrangian for asymptotic fields of a BRST quartet where the asymptotic field corresponding to the massive ghost is found to obey a dipole field equation as in the Froissart model, which is a characteristic feature in our formalism. To understand quantum aspects of our theory, we perform a manifestly covariant quantization of the effective Lagrangian in two different ways based on the three-dimensional Fourier transform and the four-dimensional Fourier transform, and derive the same result that the quantum Fock space is spanned by multipole states.

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arXiv2026

Color Confinement and Massive Gluon in Superfield Formalism

In connection with the question of confinement of massive ghost in quadratic gravity (QG), color confinement in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) has been reconsidered in the superfield formalism. It is shown that when a bound state in the BRST transformation of the gluon field exists, the gluon becomes massive and is confined. It is also shown that the asymptotic field of the gluon field obeys the field equation for not the conventional massive Klein-Gordon field but the massive dipole field. In case of quark confinement, it is shown that the quark field satisfies the massive spinor dipole equation in the confinement phase, which might suggest a physical picture such that a pair of quark and anti-quark constitutes a bound state and is confined into a meson. These facts encourage us to conjecture that the similar phenomenon could take place in confinement of massive ghost, which violates the unitarity of the physical S-matrix, and might provide us with a resolution to the unitarity problem in QG.

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arXiv2026

Confinement of Massive Ghost in Quadratic Gravity

In the framework of the covariant canonical formalism of quadratic gravity, we consider the problem of confinement of massive ghost which violates the unitarity of the physical S-matrix. It is shown that if there is a bound state between the massive ghost and Faddeev-Popov ghost the massive ghost is confined in the zero-norm states through the BRST quartet mechanism, thereby the unitarity being restored. Based on the superfield formulation by Bonora and Tonin, we show that the asymptotic field of the massive ghost must be a massive dipole whereas that of the bound state obeys a massive Klein-Gordon equation. This situation may be of some similarity to color confinement in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) where it is conjectured that not a massless but a massive gluon is in fact confined.

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arXiv2026

Bound States in Scalar Theory with Fourth-order Derivative Term

We consider a problem whether bound states are made in a scalar theory with a fourth-order derivative term or not. After rewriting the theory to a standard scalar theory with second-order derivative terms, we calculate a correlation function of the composite operators made out of massive ghosts with negative norm and massive normal fields with positive norm in the ladder approximation. It is shown that there appears a pole of the bound state in the correlation function of the both fields by attraction due to scalar field when the coupling constant is large whereas there does not so in the correlation function of almost massless normal particles corresponding to the graviton. We also point out the relationship between the scalar theory with a fourth-order derivative term and quadratic gravity. Our model may shed some light on the confinement of massive ghost in quadratic gravity, thereby enabling us to solve the problem of unitarity violation associated with the massive ghost.

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arXiv2026

Bound States in Lee's Complex Ghost Model

Quantum field theories (QFTs) including fourth derivative terms such as the Lee-Wick finite QED and quadratic gravity have a better ultra-violet behavior compared to standard theories with second derivative ones, but the existence of ghost with negative norm endangers unitarity. Such a ghost in general acquires a pair of complex conjugate masses from radiative corrections whose features are concisely described by the so-called Lee model. Working with the canonical operator formalism of QFTs, we investigate the issue of bound states in the Lee model. We find that the bound states can be created from ghosts as in path integral approach although there is a nontrivial complex delta function, which is a complex generalization of the well-known Dirac delta function. Finally, the problem of amelioration of the unitarity in quadratic gravity is briefly discussed.

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arXiv2025

Emergence of General Relativity from Cosmological Constant Via Ghost Condensation

We show that starting with a cosmological constant in a curved space-time, the Einstein-Hilbert term of general relativity is generated through a ghost condensation. We fix Weyl symmetry, or equivalently local scale symmetry by a gauge condition $R = 0$ \`{a} la BRST formalism, and see that the condensation of the Faddeev-Popov ghosts, $\langle \bar c c \rangle \neq 0$ leads to a generation of the Einstein-Hilbert action of general relativity. This dynamical mechanism of symmetry breakdown for a global scale symmetry is new in the sense that the reduction of fermionic degrees of freedom effectively leads to a generation of bosonic degrees of freedom. We also discuss this mechanism from the viewpoint of the problem of a bound state, and show that asymptotic fields corresponding to the bound states are ``confined'' to the unphysical Hilbert space.

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arXiv2025

Vanishing Metric Commutation Relation and Higher-derivative De Donder Gauge in Quadratic Gravity

We show that the equal-time commutation relations (ETCRs) among the time derivatives of the metric tensor identically vanish in the higher-derivative de Donder gauge as well as the conventional de Donder gauge (or harmonic gauge) for general coordinate invariance in the manifestly covariant canonical operator formalism of quadratic gravity. These ETCRs provide us with the vanishing four-dimensional commutation relation, which implies that the metric tensor behaves as if it were not a quantum operator but a classical field. In this case, the micro-causality is valid at least for the metric tensor in an obvious manner. This fact might be a manifestation of renormalizability of quadratic gravity in case of the canonical operator formalism.

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arXiv2025

Manifestly Covariant Canonical Formalism of Quadratic Gravity

We present the manifestly covariant quantization of quadratic gravity or higher-derivative gravity in the de Donder gauge condition (or harmonic gauge condition) for general coordinate invariance on the basis of the BRST transformation. We explicitly calculate various equal-time commutation relations (ETCRs), in particlular, the ETCRs between the metric tensor and its time derivatives in detail, and show that they are identically vanishing. We also clarify global symmetries, the physical content of quadratic gravity, and clearly show that this theory is not unitary and has a massive scalar, massive ghost and massless graviton as physical modes. Finally, we comment on confinement of the massive ghost, thereby recovering the unitarity of the physical S-matrix in quadratic gravity.

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arXiv2024

BRST Formalism of $f(R)$ Gravity

We perform the manifestly covariant quantization of $f(R)$ gravity in the de Donder gauge condition (or harmonic gauge condition) for general coordinate invariance. We explicitly calculate various equal-time commutation relations (ETCRs), in particlular, the ETCR between the metric and its time derivative, and show that it has a nonvanishing and nontrivial expression, whose situation should be contrasted to the previous result in the higher-derivative or quadratic gravity where the ETCR was found to be identically vanishing. We also clarify global symmetries, the physical content of $f(R)$ gravity, and clearly show that this theory is manifestly unitary and has a massive scalar and massless graviton as physical modes.

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arXiv2024

Conformal Symmetry in Quantum Gravity

We study the problem of how to derive conformal symmetry in the framework of quantum gravity. We start with a generic gravitational theory which is invariant under both the general coordinate transformation (GCT) and Weyl transformation (or equivalently, local scale transformation), and then construct its BRST formalism by fixing the gauge symmetries by the extended de Donder gauge and scalar gauge conditions. These gauge-fixing conditions are invariant under global $GL(4)$ and global scale transformations. The gauge-fixed and BRST invariant quantum action possesses a huge Poincar\'e-like $IOSp(10|10)$ global symmetry, from which we can construct an extended conformal symmetry in a flat Minkowski background in the sense that the Lorentz symmetry is replaced with the $GL(4)$ symmetry. Moreover, we construct the conventional conformal symmetry out of this extended symmetry. With a flat Minkowski background $\langle g_{\mu\nu} \rangle = \eta_{\mu\nu}$ and a non-zero scalar field $\langle \phi \rangle \neq 0$, the $GL(4)$ and global scale symmetries are spontaneously broken to the Lorentz symmetry, thereby proving that the graviton and the dilaton are respectively the corresponding Nambu-Goldstone bosons, and therefore they must be exactly massless at nonperturbative level. One of remarkable aspects in our findings is that in quantum gravity, a derivation of conformal symmetry does not depend on a classical action, and its generators are built from only the gauge-fixing and the FP ghost actions. Finally, we address a generalized Zumino theorem in quantum gravity.

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arXiv2024

Effective Potential for Conformal Factor and GL(4) Symmetry

We revisit the issue that the effective potential for the conformal factor of the metric, which is generated by quantized matter fields, possesses a non-vanishing vacuum expectation value (VEV) or not. We prove that the effective potential has a vanishing vacuum expectation value on the basis of a global $GL(4)$ symmetry. We also account for the reason why there seem to be two different effective potentials for the conformal factor in a theory, one of which gives rise to a vanishing VEV for the conformal factor whereas the other does a non-vanishing VEV.

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arXiv2023

Quantum Conformal Gravity

We present the manifestly covariant canonical operator formalism of a Weyl invariant (or equivalently, a locally scale invariant) gravity whose classical action consists of the well-known conformal gravity and Weyl invariant scalar-tensor gravity, on the basis of the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyupin (BRST) formalism. It is shown that there exists a Poincar${\rm{\acute{e}}}$-like $\mathit{IOSp}(8|8)$ global symmetry as in Einstein's general relativity, which should be contrasted to the case of only the Weyl invariant scalar-tensor gravity where we have a more extended Poincar${\rm{\acute{e}}}$-like $\mathit{IOSp}(10|10)$ global symmetry. This reduction of the global symmetry is attributed to the presence of the Stückelberg symmetry.

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arXiv2022

BRST Formalism of Weyl Conformal Gravity

We present the BRST formalism of a Weyl conformal gravity in Weyl geometry. Choosing the extended de Donder gauge-fixing condition (or harmonic gauge condition) for the general coordinate invariance and the new scalar gauge-fixing for the Weyl invariance we find that there is a Poincar${\rm{\acute{e}}}$-like $\IOSp(10|10)$ supersymmetry as in a Weyl invariant scalar-tensor gravity in Riemann geometry. We also point out that there is a gravitational conformal symmetry in quantum gravity although there is a massive Weyl gauge field as a result of spontaneous symmetry breakdown of Weyl gauge symmetry and account for how the gravitational conformal symmetry is spontaneously broken to the Poincaré symmetry. The corresponding massless Nambu-Goldstone bosons are the graviton and the dilaton. We also prove the unitarity of the physical S-matrix on the basis of the BRST quartet mechanism.

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arXiv2022

Vanishing Noether Current in Weyl Invariant Gravities

We revisit the issue that the Noether current associated with a local scale symmtery, or equivalently the Weyl symmetry, identically vanishes. Based on only the second Noether theorem for a local symmetry, we prove that the Noether current associated with the Weyl symmetry is in general vanishing in any Weyl invariant gravitational theories in four dimensional Riemannian geometry. We also clarify the reason: The Weyl transformation is non-dynamical in the sense that it does not contain the derivative term of the transformation parameter as opposed to the conventional gauge transformation. Finally, we apply this result to a quantum theory of a general Weyl invariant gravity and derive currents associated with choral symmetry, which is the $IOSp(10|10)$ supersymmetry.

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arXiv2022

Quantum Theory of Weyl Invariant Scalar-tensor Gravity

We perform a manifestly covariant quantization of a Weyl invariant, i.e., a locally scale invariant, scalar-tensor gravity in the extended de Donder gauge condition (or harmonic gauge condition) for general coordinate invariance and a new scalar gauge for Weyl invariance within the framework of BRST formalism. It is shown that choral symmetry, which is a Poincar${\rm{\acute{e}}}$-like $\IOSp(8|8)$ supersymmetry in case of Einstein gravity, is extended to a Poincar${\rm{\acute{e}}}$-like $\IOSp(10|10)$ supersymmetry. We point out that there is a gravitational conformal symmetry in quantum gravity and account for how conventional conformal symmetry in a flat Minkowski space-time is related to the gravitational conformal symmetry. Moreover, we examine the mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breakdown of the choral symmetry, and show that the gravitational conformal symmetry is spontaneously broken to the Poincaré symmetry and the corresponding massless Nambu-Goldstone bosons are the graviton and the dilaton. We also prove the unitarity of the physical S-matrix on the basis of the BRST quartet mechanism.

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arXiv2022

Quantum Scale Invariant Gravity with de Donder Gauge

We perform the manifestly covariant quantization of a scale invariant gravity with a scalar field, which is equivalent to the well-known Brans-Dicke gravity via a field redefinition of the scalar field, in the de Donder gauge condition (or harmonic gauge condition) for general coordinate invariance. First, without specifying the expression of a gravitational theory, we write down various equal-time (anti-)commutation relations (ETCRs), in particular, those involving the Nakanishi-Lautrup field, the FP ghost, and the FP antighost only on the basis of the de Donder gauge condition. It is shown that choral symmetry, which is a Poincar${\rm{\acute{e}}}$-like $IOSp(8|8)$ supersymmetry, can be derived from such a general action with the de Donder gauge. Next, taking the scale invariant gravity with a scalar field as a classical theory, we derive the ETCRs for the gravitational sector involving the metric tensor and scalar fields. Moreover, we account for how scale symmetry is spontaneously broken in quantum gravity, thereby showing that the dilaton is a massless Nambu-Goldstone particle.

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arXiv2021

Scale Invariance and Dilaton Mass

We consider a generic scale invariant scalar quantum field theory and its symmetry breakdown. Based on the dimension counting identity, we give a concise proof that dilaton is exactly massless at the classical level if scale invariance is broken spontaneously. On the other hand, on the basis of the generalized dimension counting identity, we prove that the dilaton becomes massive at the quantum level if scale invariance is explicitly broken by quantum anomaly. It is pointed out that a subtlety occurs when scale invariance is spontaneously broken through a scale invariant regularization method where the renormalization scale is replaced with the dilaton field. In this case, the dilaton remains massless even at the quantum level after spontaneous symmetry breakdown of scale symmetry, but when the massless dilaton couples non-minimally to the Einstein-Hilbert term and is applied for cosmology, it is phenomenologically ruled out by solar system tests unless its coupling to matters is much suppressed compared to the gravitational interaction.

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arXiv2021

Restricted Weyl Symmetry and Spontaneous Symmetry Breakdown of Conformal Symmetry

We elucidate the relation between the restricted Weyl symmetry and spontaneous symmetry breakdown of conformal symmetry. Using a scalar-tensor gravity, we show that the restricted Weyl symmetry leads to spontaneous symmetry breakdown of a global scale symmetry when the vacuum expectation value of a scalar field takes a non-zero value. It is then shown that this spontaneous symmetry breakdown induces spontaneous symmetry breakdown of special conformal symmetry in a flat Minkowski space-time, but the resultant Nambu-Goldstone boson is not an independent physical mode but expressed in terms of the derivative of the dilaton which is the Nambu-Goldstone boson of the global scale symmetry. In other words, the theories which are invariant under the general coordinate transformation and the restricted Weyl transformation exhibit a Nambu-Goldstone phase where both special conformal transformation and dilatation are spontaneously broken while preserving the Poincaré symmetry.

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