A model independent ultraviolet cutoff for theories with charged massive higher spin fields

We argue that the theory of a massive higher spin field coupled to electromagnetism in flat space possesses an intrinsic. model independent, finite upper bound on its UV cutoff. By employing the Stuckelberg formalism we do a systematic study to quantify the degree of singularity of the massless limit in the cases of spin 2, 3, 3/2, and 5/2. We then generalize the results for arbitrary spin to find an expression for the maximum cutoff of the theory as a function of the particle's mass, spin, and electric charge. We also briefly explain the physical implications of the result and discuss how it could be sharpened by use of causality constraints. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.