A note on higher-derivative actions for free higher-spin fields

Understand

Higher-derivative theories of free higher-spin fields are investigated focusing on their symmetries.

• Generalizing familiar two-derivative constrained formulations, we first construct less-constrained Einstein-like and Maxwell-like higher-derivative actions.
• Then, we construct Weyl-like actions - the actions admitting constrained Weyl symmetries - with different numbers of derivatives.
• They are presented in a factorized form making use of Einstein-like and Maxwell-like tensors.