Propagation of perturbations in non-linear spin-2 theories

Abstract

In this communication I analyze the problem of complete exceptionality of wave propagation in a class of spin 2 field theories. I show that, under the imposition of the good weak-field limit, only two Lagrangians are completely exceptional. These are the linear Fierz Lagrangian, and a Born-Infeld-like Lagrangian. As a byproduct, I reobtain the result that in a nonlinear theory, spin 2 particles follow an effective metric that depends on the nonlinearities of the Lagrangian.