arXiv subjects

Leslaw Rachwal

Publications and source records attributed to Leslaw Rachwal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Cancellation of UV divergences in ghost-free infinite derivative gravity

We consider the most general covariant gravity action up to terms that are quadratic in curvature. These can be endowed with generic form factors, which are functions of the d'Alembert operator. If they are chosen in a specific way as an exponent of an entire function, the theory becomes ghost-free and renormalizable at the price of non-locality. Furthermore, according to power-counting arguments, if these functions grow sufficiently fast along the real axis, divergences may only appear at the first order in loop expansion. Using the heat kernel technique, we compute the one-loop logarithmic divergences in the ultraviolet limit and determine the conditions under which they vanish completely, apart from the Gauss--Bonnet term and a surface term, both of which can be neglected on a four-dimensional manifold without a boundary. We identify form factors both within the Tomboulis class and beyond it that lead to vanishing logarithmic divergences. The general expression for the one-loop beta functions of the dimensionless couplings in quadratic gravity with asymptotically monomial form factors is given.

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arXiv2022

Ultraviolet Finiteness or Asymptotic Safety in Higher Derivative Gravitational Theories

We present and discuss well known conditions for ultraviolet finiteness and asymptotic safety. The requirements for complete absence of ultraviolet divergences in quantum field theories and existence of a non-trivial fixed point for renormalization group flow in the ultraviolet regime are compared based on the example of a six-derivative quantum gravitational theory in $d=4$ spacetime dimensions. In this model, it is possible for the first time to have fully UV-finite quantum theory without adding matter or special symmetry, but by inclusion of additional terms cubic in curvatures. We comment on similarities and some apparent differences between the two approaches, but we show that they are both compatible to each other. Finally, we motivate the claim that actually asymptotic safety needs UV-finite models for providing explicit form of the ultraviolet limit of Wilsonian effective actions describing special situations at fixed points.

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arXiv2021

Renormalization Group in Six-derivative Quantum Gravity

The exact one-loop beta functions for the four-derivative terms (Weyl tensor squared, Ricci scalar squared and the Gauss-Bonnet) are derived for the minimal six-derivative quantum gravity (QG) theory in four spacetime dimensions. The calculation is performed by means of the Barvinsky and Vilkovisky generalized Schwinger-DeWitt technique. With this result we gain, for the first time, the full set of the relevant beta functions in a super-renormalizable model of QG. The complete set of renormalization group (RG) equations, including also those for the Newton and the cosmological constant, is solved explicitly in the general case and for the six-derivative Lee-Wick (LW) quantum gravity proposed in a previous paper by two of the authors. In the ultraviolet regime, the minimal theory is shown to be asymptotically free and describes free gravitons in Minkowski or (anti-) de Sitter ((A)dS) backgrounds, depending on the initial conditions for the RG equations. The ghostlike states appear in complex conjugate pairs at any energy scale consistently with the LW prescription. However, owing to the running, these ghosts may become tachyons. We argue that an extension of the theory that involves operators cubic in Riemann tensor may change the beta functions and hence be capable of overcoming this problem.

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arXiv2020

Effective Action from the Functional Renormalization Group

We study the quantum gravitational system coupled to a charged scalar, Dirac fermions, and electromagnetic fields. We use the "exact" or "functional" renormalization group equation to derive the effective action $Γ_0$ by integrating the flow equation from the ultraviolet scale down to $k=0$. The resulting effective action consists of local terms and nonlocal terms with unique coefficients.

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arXiv2020

Infrared behavior of Weyl Gravity: Functional Renormalization Group approach

Starting from an ultraviolet fixed point, we study the infrared behavior of quantum Weyl gravity in terms of a functional renormalization group (RG) flow equation. To do so, we employ two classes of Bach-flat backgrounds, namely maximally symmetric spacetimes and Ricci-flat backgrounds in the improved one-loop scheme. We show that in the absence of matter fields and with a topological term included, the effective action exhibits dynamical breaking of scale symmetry. In particular, it is shown that apart from a genuine IR fixed point that is reached at a zero-value of the running scale, the RG flow also exhibits bouncing behavior in the IR regime. We demonstrate that both $β_C$ and $β_E$ reach the RG turning point (almost) simultaneously at the same finite energy scale, irrespectively of the chosen background. The IR fixed point itself is found to be IR-stable in the space of the considered couplings. Ensuing scaling dimensions of both operators are also computed. Salient issues, including the connection of the observed bouncing RG flow behavior with holography and prospective implications in early Universe cosmology, are also briefly discussed.

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arXiv2018

Conformal Symmetry in Field Theory and in Quantum Gravity

Conformal symmetry always played an important role in field theory (both quantum and classical) and in gravity. We present construction of quantum conformal gravity and discuss its features regarding scattering amplitudes and quantum effective action. First, the long and complicated story of UV-divergences is recalled. With the development of UV-finite higher derivative (or non-local) gravitational theory, all problems with infinities and spacetime singularities are solved. Moreover, the non-local quantum conformal theory reveals itself to be ghost-free, so the unitarity of the theory is safe. After the construction of UV-finite theory, we focused on making it manifestly conformally invariant using the dilaton trick. We also argue that in this class of theories conformal anomaly vanishes by fine-tuning the couplings. As applications of this theory, the constraints of the conformal symmetry on the form of the effective action and on the scattering amplitudes are shown. We also remark about the preservation of the unitarity bound for scattering. Finally, the old model of conformal supergravity by Fradkin and Tseytlin is briefly presented.

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arXiv2018

Finite quantum gravity in dS and AdS spacetimes

We hereby study the properties of a large class of weakly nonlocal gravitational theories around the (anti-) de Sitter spacetime background. In particular, we explicitly prove that the kinetic operator for the graviton field has the same structure as the one in Einstein-Hilbert theory around any maximally symmetric spacetime. Therefore, the perturbative spectrum is the same of standard general relativity, while the propagator on any maximally symmetric spacetime is a mere generalization of the one from Einstein's gravity derived and extensively studied in several previous papers. At quantum level the range of theories here presented is superrenormalizable or finite when proper (non affecting the propagator) terms cubic or higher in curvatures are added. Finally, it is proven that for a large class of nonlocal theories, which in their actions do involve neither the Weyl nor the Riemann tensor, the theory is classically equivalent to the Einstein-Hilbert one with cosmological constant by means of a metric field redefinition at any perturbative order.

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arXiv2018

Renormalization group in super-renormalizable quantum gravity

One of the main advantages of super-renormalizable higher derivative quantum gravity models is the possibility to derive exact beta functions, by making perturbative one-loop calculations. We perform such a calculation for the Newton constant by using the Barvinsky-Vilkovisky trace technology. The result is well-defined in a large class of models of gravity in the sense that the renormalization group beta functions do not depend on the gauge-fixing condition. Finally, we discuss the possibility to apply the results to a large class of nonlocal gravitational theories which are free of massive ghost-like states at the tree-level.

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arXiv2018

Finite Entanglement Entropy of Black Holes

We compute the area term contribution to black holes' entanglement entropy (using the conical technique) for a class of local or weakly non-local super-renormalizable gravitational theories coupled to matter. For the first time, we explicitly prove that all the beta functions in the proposed theory, except for the cosmological constant, are identically zero in cut-off regularization scheme and not only in dimensional regularization scheme. In particular, we show that there is no divergence quadratic in cut-off and hence there is no contribution to the beta function of the Newton constant. As a consequence of this result, we argue that in these theories of gravity conical entropy is a sensible definition of physical entropy, in particular, it is positive-definite and gauge-independent. On top of this the conical entropy, being expressed only in terms of the classical Newton constant, turns out to be finite and naturally coincides with Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. Finally, we propose a theory in which the renormalization of the Newton constant is entirely due to the Standard Model matter, arguing that such a contribution does not give the usual interpretational problems of conical entropy discussed in the literature.

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arXiv2018

Formation and evaporation of an electrically charged black hole in conformal gravity

Extending previous work on the formation and the evaporation of black holes in conformal gravity, in the present paper we study the gravitational collapse of a spherically symmetric and electrically charged thin shell of radiation. The process creates a singularity-free black hole. Assuming that in the evaporation process the charge $Q$ is constant, the final product of the evaporation is an extremal remnant with $M=Q$, which is reached in an infinite amount of time. We also discuss the issue of singularity and thermodynamics of black holes in Weyl's conformal gravity.

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arXiv2018

Finite conformal quantum gravity and spacetime singularities

We show that a class of finite quantum non-local gravitational theories is conformally invariant at classical as well as at quantum level. This is actually a range of conformal anomaly-free theories in the spontaneously broken phase of the Weyl symmetry. At classical level we show how the Weyl conformal invariance is able to tame all the spacetime singularities that plague not only Einstein gravity, but also local and weakly non-local higher derivative theories. The latter statement is proved by a singularity theorem that applies to a large class of weakly non-local theories. Therefore, we are entitled to look for a solution of the spacetime singularity puzzle in a missed symmetry of nature, namely the Weyl conformal symmetry. Following the seminal paper by Narlikar and Kembhavi, we provide an explicit construction of singularity-free black hole exact solutions in a class of conformally invariant theories.

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arXiv2017

Black hole evaporation in conformal gravity

We study the formation and the evaporation of a spherically symmetric black hole in conformal gravity. From the collapse of a spherically symmetric thin shell of radiation, we find a singularity-free non-rotating black hole. This black hole has the same Hawking temperature as a Schwarzschild black hole with the same mass, and it completely evaporates either in a finite or in an infinite time, depending on the ensemble. We consider the analysis both in the canonical and in the micro-canonical statistical ensembles. Last, we discuss the corresponding Penrose diagram of this physical process.

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arXiv2017

Spacetime completeness of non-singular black holes in conformal gravity

We explicitly prove that the Weyl conformal symmetry solves the black hole singularity problem, otherwise unavoidable in a generally covariant local or non-local gravitational theory. Moreover, we yield explicit examples of local and non-local theories enjoying Weyl and diffeomorphism symmetry (in short co-covariant theories). Following the seminal paper by Narlikar and Kembhavi, we provide an explicit construction of singularity-free spherically symmetric and axi-symmetric exact solutions for black hole spacetimes conformally equivalent to the Schwarzschild or the Kerr spacetime. We first check the absence of divergences in the Kretschmann invariant for the rescaled metrics. Afterwords, we show that the new types of black holes are geodesically complete and linked by a Newman-Janis transformation just as in standard general relativity (based on Einstein-Hilbert action). Furthermore, we argue that no massive or massless particles can reach the former Schwarzschild singularity or touch the former Kerr ring singularity in a finite amount of their proper time or of their affine parameter. Finally, we discuss the Raychaudhuri equation in a co-covariant theory and we show that the expansion parameter for congruences of both types of geodesics (for massless and massive particles) never reaches minus infinity. Actually, the null geodesics become parallel at the $r=0$ point in the Schwarzschild spacetime (the origin) and the focusing of geodesics is avoided. The arguments of regularity of curvature invariants, geodesic completeness, and finiteness of geodesics' expansion parameter ensure us that we are dealing with singularity-free and geodesically-complete black hole spacetimes.

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arXiv2016

Occurrence of exact $R^2$ inflation in non-local UV-complete gravity

The $R+R^2$, shortly named "$R^2$" ("Starobinsky") inflationary model, represents a fully consistent example of a one-parameter inflationary scenario. This model has a "graceful exit" from inflation and provides a mechanism for subsequent creation and final thermalization of the standard matter. Moreover, it produces a very good fit of the observed spectrum of primordial perturbations. In the present paper we show explicitly that the $R^2$ inflationary spacetime is an exact solution of a range of weakly non-local (quasi-polynomial) gravitational theories, which provide an ultraviolet completion of the $R^2$ theory. These theories are ghost-free, super-renormalizable or finite at quantum level, and perturbatively unitary. Their spectrum consists of the graviton and the scalaron that is responsible for driving the inflation. Notably, any further extension of the spectrum leads to propagating ghost degrees of freedom. We are aimed at presenting a detailed construction of such theories in the so called Weyl basis. Further, we give a special account to the cosmological implications of this theory by considering perturbations during inflation. The highlight of the non-local model is the prediction of a modified, in comparison to a local $R^2$ model, value for the ratio of tensor and scalar power spectra $r$, depending on the parameters of the theory. The relevant parameters are under control to be successfully confronted with existing observational data. Furthermore, the modified $r$ can surely meet future observational constraints.

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arXiv2016

Finite Conformal Quantum Gravity and Nonsingular Spacetimes

We explicitly prove that a class of finite quantum gravitational theories (in odd as well as in even dimension) is actually a range of anomaly-free conformally invariant theories in the spontaneously broken phase of the conformal Weyl symmetry. At classical level we show how the Weyl conformal invariance is likely able to tame the spacetime singularities that plague not only Einstein gravity, but also local and weakly non-local higher derivative theories. This latter statement is rigorously proved by a singularity theorem that applies to a large class of weakly non-local theories. Following the seminal paper by Narlikar and Kembhavi, we provide an explicit construction of singularity-free black hole exact solutions conformally equivalent to the Schwarzschild metric. Furthermore, we show that the FRW cosmological solutions and the Belinski, Khalatnikov, Lifshitz (BKL) spacetimes, which exactly solve the classical equations of motion, are conformally equivalent to regular spacetimes. Finally, we prove that the Oppenheimer-Volkov gravitational collapse is a an exact (singularity-free) solution of the non-local conformally invariant theory compatible with the bounce paradigm.

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arXiv2015

Exact solutions and spacetime singularities in nonlocal gravity

We give here a list of exact classical solutions of a large class of weakly nonlocal theories of gravity, which are unitary and super-renormalizable (or finite) at quantum level. It is explicitly shown that flat and Ricci-flat spacetimes as well as maximally symmetric manifolds are exact solutions of the equation of motion. Therefore, well-known physical spacetimes like Schwarzschild, Kerr, (Anti-) de Sitter serve as solutions for standard matter content. In dimension higher than four we can also have Anti-de Sitter solutions in the presence of positive cosmological constant. We pedagogically show how to obtain these exact solutions. Furthermore, for another version of the theory, written in the Weyl basis, Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) spacetimes are also exact solutions, when the matter content is given by conformal matter (radiation). We also comment on the presence of singularities and possible resolution of them in finite and conformally invariant theories. "Delocalization" is proposed as a way to solve the black hole singularity problem. In order to solve the problem of cosmological singularities it seems crucial to have a conformally invariant or asymptotically free quantum gravitational theory.

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arXiv2015

Finite quantum gauge theories

We explicitly compute the one-loop exact beta function for a nonlocal extension of the standard gauge theory, in particular Yang-Mills and QED. The theory, made of a weakly nonlocal kinetic term and a local potential of the gauge field, is unitary (ghost-free) and perturbatively super-renormalizable. Moreover, in the action we can always choose the potential (consisting of one "killer operator") to make zero the beta function of running gauge coupling constant. The outcome is "a UV finite theory for any gauge interaction". Our calculations are done in D=4, but the results can be generalized to even or odd spacetime dimensions. We compute the contribution to the beta function from two different killer operators by using two independent techniques, namely the Feynman diagrams and the Barvinsky-Vilkovisky traces. By making the theories finite we are able to solve also the Landau pole problems, in particular in QED. Without any potential the beta function of the one-loop super-renormalizable theory shows a universal Landau pole in the running coupling constant in the ultraviolet regime (UV), regardless of the specific higher-derivative structure. However, the dressed propagator shows neither the Landau pole in the UV, nor the singularities in the infrared regime (IR).

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arXiv2015

Scattering amplitudes in super-renormalizable gravity

We explicitly compute the tree-level on-shell four-graviton amplitudes in four, five and six dimensions for local and weakly nonlocal gravitational theories that are quadratic in both, the Ricci and scalar curvature with form factors of the d'Alembertian operator inserted between. More specifically we are interested in renormalizable, super-renormalizable or finite theories. The scattering amplitudes for these theories turn out to be the same as the ones of Einstein gravity regardless of the explicit form of the form factors. As a special case the four-graviton scattering amplitudes in Weyl conformal gravity are identically zero. Using a field redefinition, we prove that the outcome is correct for any number of external gravitons (on-shell $n-$point functions) and in any dimension for a large class of theories. However, when an operator quadratic in the Riemann tensor is added in any dimension (with the exception of the Gauss-Bonnet term in four dimensions) the result is completely altered, and the scattering amplitudes depend on all the form factors introduced in the action.

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