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How to understand the Structure of Beta Functions in Six-derivative Quantum Gravity?

High Energy Physics - Theory 2022-05-23 v1 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Mathematical Physics math.MP Quantum Physics

Abstract

We extensively motivate the studies of higher-derivative gravities, and in particular we emphasize which new quantum features theories with six derivatives in their definitions possess. Next, we discuss the mathematical structure of the exact on the full quantum level beta functions obtained previously for three couplings in front of generally covariant terms with four derivatives (Weyl tensor squared, Ricci scalar squared and the Gauss-Bonnet scalar) in minimal six-derivative quantum gravity in d=4d=4 spacetime dimensions. The fundamental role here is played by the ratio xx of the coupling in front of the term with Weyl tensors to the coupling in front of the term with Ricci scalars in the original action. We draw a relation between the polynomial dependence on xx and the absence/presence of enhanced conformal symmetry and renormalizability in the models where formally x+x\to+\infty in the case of four- and six-derivative theories respectively.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2205.09893,
  title  = {How to understand the Structure of Beta Functions in Six-derivative Quantum Gravity?},
  author = {Lesław Rachwał},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.09893},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

40 pages, contribution to the AAMP XVIII conference "Algebraic and analytic methods in physics'' (CTU, Prague 2021)