[Physics] Degrees of freedom of the graviton versus classical degrees of freedom

degrees of freedomgauge-theorygeneral-relativitygravity

I have a puzzle I can not even understand.
A graviton is generally understood in $D$ dimensions as a field with some independent components or degrees of freedom (DOF), from a traceless symmetric tensor minus constraints, we get:

  1. A massless graviton has $D(D-3)/2$ d.o.f. in $D$-dimensional spacetime.

  2. A massive graviton has $D(D-1)/2-1$ d.o.f. in $D$-dimensional spacetime.

Issue: In classical gravity, given by General Relativity, we have a metric (a symmetric tensor) and the Einstein Field Equations(EFE) provide its dynamics. The metric has 10 independent components, and EFE provide 10 equations. Bianchi identities reduce the number of independent components by 4. Hence, we have 6 independent components.
However, for $D=4$, we get

  1. 2 independent components.

  2. 5 independent components.

Is the mismatch between "independent" components of gravitational degrees of freedom (graviton components) one of the reasons why General Relativity can not be understood as a quantum theory for the graviton?

Of course, a massive graviton is a different thing that GR but even a naive counting of graviton d.o.f. is not compatible with GR and it should, should't it? At least from the perturbative approach. Where did I make the mistake?

Best Answer

As far as counting d.o.f.s for GR, I believe it goes: Start with a symmetric tensor (10 d.o.f in 4-D). Throw out 4 because of the Bianchi identities (6 d.o.f left). Throw out another 4 because of invariance under space-time diffeomorphisms (in other words, GR is invariant under General Coordinate Transformations, so you have 4 unphysical d.o.f.s). Thus there are only two degrees of freedom left.

Regarding massive gravity, see: Theoretical Aspects of Massive Gravity by Kurt Hinterbichler [arxiv 1105.3735] which has a fairly readable introduction.

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