A stable higher-derivative theory with the Yang-Mills gauge symmetry

Abstract

An example of higher-derivative theory with a non-Abelian gauge symmetry is proposed. In the free limit, the model describes the multiplet of vector fields, being subjected to the extended Chern-Simons equations. The theory admits a single second-rank conserved tensor, whose 00-component can be bounded or unbounded from below depending on the model parameters. If the conserved tensor has a bounded 00-component, the dynamics is stable. The equations of motion are non-Lagrangian.