Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity

Abstract Ghost-free dRGT massive gravity is a subtle theory, even at the classical level. Its viability depends on Vainshtein screening, which is an intrinsically non-linear phenomenon, and thus understanding the full non-linear dynamics of the theory is crucial. The theory was not expected to have...

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Main Authors: Jan Kożuszek, Toby Wiseman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP06(2025)133
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author Jan Kożuszek
Toby Wiseman
author_facet Jan Kożuszek
Toby Wiseman
author_sort Jan Kożuszek
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ghost-free dRGT massive gravity is a subtle theory, even at the classical level. Its viability depends on Vainshtein screening, which is an intrinsically non-linear phenomenon, and thus understanding the full non-linear dynamics of the theory is crucial. The theory was not expected to have a well-posed hyperbolic formulation as it is usually interpreted as a low energy EFT, and hence its short distance physics would be modified by higher derivative operators. Here we study a new dynamical formulation of the theory for the case of the minimal mass term. This firstly involves using a harmonic formulation of the theory, and then writing it as a first order system. We are able to cast it in a form that is strongly hyperbolic about the Minkowski background. We discuss strong hyperbolicity for backgrounds close to the Minkowski solution, conjecturing that Cauchy evolution remains well-posed. Interestingly, as part of the analysis, we find that the characteristics of the spin two graviton mode are simply governed by the inverse metric on a general background.
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spelling doaj-art-52a7ea2689ee400c858036a4a8b10d052025-08-20T03:45:44ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792025-06-012025615110.1007/JHEP06(2025)133Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravityJan Kożuszek0Toby Wiseman1Abdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics, Imperial College LondonAbdus Salam Centre for Theoretical Physics, Imperial College LondonAbstract Ghost-free dRGT massive gravity is a subtle theory, even at the classical level. Its viability depends on Vainshtein screening, which is an intrinsically non-linear phenomenon, and thus understanding the full non-linear dynamics of the theory is crucial. The theory was not expected to have a well-posed hyperbolic formulation as it is usually interpreted as a low energy EFT, and hence its short distance physics would be modified by higher derivative operators. Here we study a new dynamical formulation of the theory for the case of the minimal mass term. This firstly involves using a harmonic formulation of the theory, and then writing it as a first order system. We are able to cast it in a form that is strongly hyperbolic about the Minkowski background. We discuss strong hyperbolicity for backgrounds close to the Minkowski solution, conjecturing that Cauchy evolution remains well-posed. Interestingly, as part of the analysis, we find that the characteristics of the spin two graviton mode are simply governed by the inverse metric on a general background.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP06(2025)133Classical Theories of GravityCosmological modelsEffective Field Theories
spellingShingle Jan Kożuszek
Toby Wiseman
Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity
Journal of High Energy Physics
Classical Theories of Gravity
Cosmological models
Effective Field Theories
title Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity
title_full Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity
title_fullStr Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity
title_full_unstemmed Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity
title_short Well-posedness of minimal dRGT massive gravity
title_sort well posedness of minimal drgt massive gravity
topic Classical Theories of Gravity
Cosmological models
Effective Field Theories
url https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP06(2025)133
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AT tobywiseman wellposednessofminimaldrgtmassivegravity