The alternative version of Hamiltonian formalism for higher-derivative theories is proposed. As compared with the standard Ostrogradski approach it has the following advantages: (i) the Lagrangian, when expressed in terms of new variables yields proper equations of motion; no additional Lagrange multipliers are necessary (ii) the Legendre transformation can be performed in a straightforward way provided the Lagrangian is nonsingular in Ostrogradski sense. The generalizations to singular Lagrangians as well as field theory are presented.

It is demonstrated that the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator in arbitrary dimension enjoys the l-conformal Newton-Hooke symmetry provided frequencies of oscillation form the arithmetic sequence ω k = (2k − 1)ω 1 , where k = 1, . . . , n, and l is the half-integer 2n−1 2 . The model is shown to be maximally superintegrable. A link to n decoupled isotropic oscillators is discussed and an interplay between the l-conformal Newton-Hooke symmetry and symmetries characterizing each individual isotropic oscillator is analyzed.

Nonrelativistic conformal groups, indexed by l = N 2 , are analyzed. Under the assumption that the mass parametrizing the central extension is nonvanishing the coadjoint orbits are classified and described in terms of convenient variables. It is shown that the corresponding dynamical system describes, within Ostrogradski framework, the nonrelativistic particle obeying (N + 1)-th order equation of motion. As a special case, the Schrödinger group and the standard Newton equations are obtained for N = 1 (l = 1 2 ).

It is noted that the Niederer transformation can be used to find the explicit relation between time-dependent linear oscillators, including the most interesting case when one of them is harmonic. A geometric interpretation of this correspondence is provided by certain subclasses of pp-waves; in particular the ones strictly related to the proper conformal transformations. This observation allows us to show that the pulses of plane gravitational wave exhibiting the maximal conformal symmetry are analytically solvable. Particularly interesting is the circularly polarized family for which some aspects (such as the classical cross section, velocity memory effect and impulsive limit) are discussed in more detail. The role of the additional integrals of motion, associated with the conformal generators, is clarified by means of Ermakov-Lewis invariants. Possible applications to the description of interaction of electromagnetic beams with matter are also indicated.

We discuss in some detail the interaction of classical particles, including the scattering and memory effect, with a pulse of gravitational plane wave. The key point is the conformal symmetry of gravitational plane waves. In particular, we obtain, in the limit of short pulse, some results for impulsive gravitational waves. Furthermore, in the general case, we give certain conditions which allow us to completely describe the interaction in terms of the singular Baldwin-Jeffery-Rosen coordinates.

Dynamical systems invariant under the action of the l-conformal Newton-Hooke algebras are constructed by the method of nonlinear realizations. The relevant first order Lagrangians together with the corresponding Hamiltonians are found. The relation to the Galajinsky and Masterov [Phys. Lett. B 723 (2013) 190] approach as well as the higher derivatives formulation is discussed. The generalized Niederer's transformation are presented which relate the systems under consideration to those invariant under the action of the l-conformal Galilei algebra [Nucl. Phys. B 876 (2013) 309]. As a nice application of these results an analogue of Niederer's transformation, on the Hamiltonian level, for the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator is constructed.

We consider the Euclidean path integral approach to higher-derivative theories proposed by Hawking and Hertog (Phys. Rev. D65 (2002), 103515). The Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator is studied in some detail. The operator algebra is reconstructed and the structure of the space of states revealed. It is shown that the quantum theory results from quantizing the classical complex dynamics in which the original dynamics is consistently immersed. The field-theoretical counterpart of Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator is also considered.Comment: 14 pages; no figures;the paper considerably extended; field-theoretical part adde

The coadjoint orbit method is applied to the construction of Hamiltonian dynamics of massless particles of arbitrary helicity. The unusual transformation properties of canonical variables are interpreted in terms of nonlinear realizations of Poincare group. The action principle is formulated in terms of new space-time variables with standard transformation properties.