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Gauge symmetries, contact reduction, and singular field theories

Callum Bell* and David Sloan†

  • *Contact author: c.bell8@lancaster.ac.uk
  • †Contact author: d.sloan@lancaster.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 125023 – Published 17 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2w3v-4xvr

Abstract

The symmetry reduction of dynamical systems that are invariant under changes of global scale is well understood for classical theories of particles and fields. The excision of the superfluous degree of freedom generating such rescalings leads to a dynamically equivalent theory, which is frictional in nature. In this article, we extend the formalism to physical models, of both particles and fields, described by singular Lagrangians. In order to work with a finite-dimensional (velocity) phase space, our construction requires that we treat classical field theories within the De-Donder Weyl formalism, in which a multisymplectic structure is introduced on the first jets of the bundle of fields. The results obtained are subsequently applied to a number of physically motivated examples, as well as a discussion presented on the implications of our work for classical general relativity.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 125023– Published 17 June, 2026
  • Received 5 January 2026
  • Accepted 29 May 2026
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