Second order gauge theory

A gauge theory of second order in the derivatives of the auxiliary field is constructed following Utiyama’s program. A novel field strength G = ∂F + fAF arises besides the one of the first order treatment, F = ∂A − ∂A + fAA. The associated conserved current is obtained. It has a new feature: topological terms are determined from local invariance requirements. Podolsky Generalized Eletrodynamics is derived as a particular case in which the Lagrangian of the gauge field is LP ∝ G2. In this application the photon mass is estimated. The SU (N) infrared regime is analysed by means of Alekseev–Arbuzov–Baikov’s Lagrangian.