Related papers: Super-renormalizable Higher-Derivative Quantum Gra…
We explore quantum field theories with fractional d'Alembertian $\Box^\gamma$. Both a scalar field theory with a derivative-dependent potential and gauge theory are super-renormalizable for a fractional power $1<\gamma\leq 2$, one-loop…
We establish a non-renormalization theorem for a class of ghost-free local functionals describing massive vector field theories coupled to dynamical geometry. Under the assumptions of locality, Lorentz invariance, and validity of the…
We recast the action principle of four dimensional General Relativity so that it becomes amenable for perturbation theory which doesn't break general covariance. The coupling constant becomes dimensionless (G_{Newton} \Lambda) and extremely…
In this paper we will consider quantum aspects of a non-local, infinite-derivative scalar field theory - a $\it toy \, model$ depiction of a covariant infinite-derivative, non-local extension of Einstein's general relativity which has…
Non-pertrubative quantum gravity formulated as a unitary four-dimensional theory suggests that certain amount of non-locality, such as infinite-derivative operators, can be present in the action, in both cases of Analytic Infinite…
We study the degrees of freedom of the metric in a general class of higher derivative gravity models, which are interesting in the context of quantum gravity as they are (super)renormalizable. First, we linearize the theory for a flat…
More than three decades ago quadratic gravity was found to present a perturbative, renormalizable and asymptotically free theory of quantum gravity. Unfortunately the theory appeared to have problems with a spin-2 ghost. In this essay we…
The effective action in renormalizable quantum theory of gravity provides entropy because the total Hamiltonian vanishes. Since it is a renormalization group invariant that is constant in the process of cosmic evolution, we can show…
Generic higher derivative theories are believed to be fundamentally unphysical because they contain Ostrogradsky ghosts. We show that within complex classical mechanics it is possible to construct higher derivative theories that circumvent…
General Relativity (GR) is an effective field theory valid in the infrared regime. Quadratic curvature extensions intended to probe ultraviolet physics generically propagate a massive spin-$2$ ghost and are therefore non-unitary. One route…
The quantum cosmology of a higher-derivative derivative gravity theory arising from the heterotic string effective action is reviewed. A new type of Wheeler-DeWitt equation is obtained when the dilaton is coupled to the quadratic curvature…
The most general version of a renormalizable $d=4$ theory corresponding to a dimensionless higher-derivative scalar field model in curved spacetime is explored. The classical action of the theory contains $12$ independent functions, which…
Higher order renormalization in 4D quantum gravity is carried out using dimensional regularization with great care concerning the conformal-mode dependence. In this regularization, resummation can be automatically carried out without making…
We develop a renormalization-group formalism for non-renormalizable theories and apply it to Einstein gravity theory coupled to a scalar field with the Lagrangian $L=\sqrt{g} [R U(\phi)-{1/2} G(\phi) g^{\mu\nu} \partial_{\mu}\phi…
Local gravitational theories with more than four derivatives have remarkable quantum properties, e.g., they are super-renormalizable and may be unitary in the Lee-Wick sense. Therefore, it is important to explore also the IR limit of these…
On the perturbatively non-renormalizable and non-perturbatively finite examples (delta-function type potential in non-relativistic quantum mechanics and the mathematical model of the propagator by Redmond and Uretsky in quantum field…
When general relativity is augmented by quadratic gravity terms, it becomes a renormalisable theory of gravity. This theory may admit a non-Gaussian fixed point as envisaged in the asymptotic safety program, rendering the theory trustworthy…
In a scalar-coupled-gravity model, the quadratically divergent counter term appearing in the mass renormalization of the scalar fields must inherit corrections arising out of gravitational interactions. In this work we have explicitly…
We show that the instabilities of higher derivative gravity models with quadratic curvature invariant $\alpha R^2+\beta R_{\mu\nu}R^{\mu\nu}$ can be removed by judicious addition of constraints at the quadratic level of metric fluctuations…
We consider 4D quantum-dilaton gravity with the most general coupling in a homogeneous and isotropic universe, especially an inflationary one, which is essentially characterized by an exponentially expanding scale factor with time. We show…