Related papers: The Spectrum of Quantum Gravity
We analyze the propagating degrees of freedom in gravity models where the scalar curvature in the action is replaced by a generic function $f(R)$ of the curvature. That these gravity models are equivalent to Einstein's gravity with an extra…
In this paper we discuss singularity theorems in quantum gravity using effective field theory methods. To second order in curvature, this effective field theory contains two new degrees of freedom which have important implications for the…
The effective field theory of quantum gravity generically predicts non-locality to be present in the effective action, which results from the low-energy propagation of gravitons and massless matter. Working to second order in gravitational…
The duality between a higher curvature $f(R)$ gravity model and a scalar-tensor theory helps to bring out the role of the additional degree of freedom originating from the higher derivative terms in the gravity action. Such a degree of…
We employ the curvature expansion of the quantum effective action for gravity-matter systems to construct graviton-mediated scattering amplitudes for non-minimally coupled scalar fields in a Minkowski background. By design, the formalism…
We consider the full effective theory for quantum gravity at second order in curvature including non-local terms. We show that the theory contains two new degrees of freedom beyond the massless graviton: namely a massive spin-2 ghost and a…
We derive rigorous bounds on corrections to Einstein gravity using unitarity and analyticity of graviton scattering amplitudes. In $D\geq 4$ spacetime dimensions, these consistency conditions mandate positive coefficients for certain…
We consider Einstein gravity with the addition of $R^2$ and $R^{\mu \nu} R_{\mu \nu}$ interactions in the context of effective field theory, and the corresponding scattering amplitudes of gravitons and minimally-coupled heavy scalars.…
We discuss quadratic gravity where terms quadratic in the curvature tensor are included in the action. After reviewing the corresponding field equations, we analyze in detail the physical propagating modes in some specific backgrounds.…
Modifications of Einstein's theory of gravitation have been extensively considered in the past years, in connection to both cosmology and quantum gravity. Higher-curvature and higher-derivative gravity theories constitute the main examples…
We study the degrees of freedom of $R^2$ gravity in flat spacetime with two approaches. By rewriting the theory a la Stueckelberg, and implementing Lorentz-like gauges to the metric perturbations, we confirm that the pure theory propagates…
A modified theory of gravity with the function $F(R) = R\exp(\alpha R)$ instead of Ricci scalar $R$ in the Einstein$-$Hilbert action is considered and analyzed. The action of the model is converted into Einstein$-$Hilbert action at small…
We discuss spacetime instability for effective field theories of quantum gravity. The effective action of gravity introduces infinite higher derivative curvature terms $R^{2}, { R }_{ \mu \nu }{ R }^{ \mu \nu }, R_{\mu\nu\kappa\lambda}…
We consider the large-$D$ limit of Einstein gravity. It is observed that a consistent leading large-$D$ graph limit exists, and that it is built up by a subclass of planar diagrams. The graphs in the effective field theory extension of…
Starting from the original Einstein action, sometimes called the Gamma squared action, we propose a new setup to formulate modified theories of gravity. This can yield a theory with second order field equations similar to those found in…
Effective equations are often useful to extract physical information from quantum theories without having to face all technical and conceptual difficulties. One can then describe aspects of the quantum system by equations of classical type,…
We construct higher-order curvature invariants in causal set quantum gravity. The motivation for this work is twofold: first, to characterize causal sets, discrete operators that encode geometric information on the emergent spacetime…
The linearization of a type of $f(R)$ gravity is studied directly in the higher-order frame for an arbitrary five-dimensional warped space-time background. The quadratic actions of the normal modes of the scalar, vector, and tensor…
We present a clear, step-by-step method for counting degrees of freedom and identifying constraints in general field theories. This approach, grounded in the works of Einstein, Hilbert, Cartan, Kuranishi, and, more recently, Seiler, is…
The $f(R)$ theory of gravity can be expressed as a scalar tensor theory with a scalar degree of freedom $\phi$. By a conformal transformation, the action and its Gibbons-York-Hawking boundary term are written in the Einstein frame and the…