arXiv subjects

Nobuyoshi Ohta

Publications and source records attributed to Nobuyoshi Ohta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Consistency in the Quantum-Improved Charged Black Holes

We investigate the consistency in the thermodynamics and the approaches at the equation and action levels for the quantum-improved charged black holes with scale-dependent couplings. For the quantum-improved Reissner-Nordstr\"om black holes, we find that the thermodynamic consistency allows both the Newton and electromagnetic couplings to have arbitrary dependence on the radial coordinate. We point out a subtlety in the chemical potential with the scale-dependent electromagnetic coupling in the study of thermodynamics. We also examine the compatibility of the Einstein equations at the equation and action levels with the Bianchi identity, identifying the need for an additional quantum energy-momentum tensor. We then find that the consistency between the approaches at the equation and action levels requires that the Newton coupling satisfy certain property. Finally, we extend the analysis to cosmological solutions, suggesting that quantum-induced modifications can drive the isotropization of the early universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Bianchi-I Cosmology with Radiation in Asymptotically Safe Gravity

We study the late-time evolution of an anisotropic Bianchi-I universe with radiation in the framework of asymptotically safe gravity. We first discuss the radiation-dominated universe for the perfect fluid with the equation of state $p=\rho/3$, and find that the classical evolution involves logarithmic terms, which lead to a slow approach toward isotropy. The quantum effects introduce subleading corrections that soften the anisotropy in the intermediate stage. Next we discuss the universe with magnetic fields. For a vanishing classical cosmological constant, we find that the universe in general evolves toward a Kasner-type regime with persistent anisotropy while the expansion rate is enhanced by quantum effects, leading to a faster decay of the magnetic field. In contrast, for a nonzero classical cosmological constant, the late-time dynamics are dominated by the cosmological constant, and the universe asymptotically approaches an isotropic de Sitter phase with exponential decay of both anisotropies and the magnetic field. Finally, we employ Hodge duality to demonstrate that these cosmological findings apply equally to environments dominated by electric fields.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Noncritical Conformal Gravity and Four-Dimensional Liouville Theory

We study the quantum aspects of the conformal gravity in four dimensions, specifically addressing a known discrepancy in beta functions between general quadratic curvature theories and conformal gravity, which corresponds to two scalar degrees of freedom. We demonstrate that this mismatch is resolved by carefully introducing gauge-fixing and ghost terms via the BRST symmetry, which effectively adds the two scalar modes. Drawing lessons from two-dimensional quantum gravity and Liouville theory, we proceed to integrate the four-dimensional trace anomaly to derive a consistent Liouville action, which is given by a free-field action for the conformal mode with a consistent conformal anomaly. Finally we give the condition that the BRST transformation is anomaly free.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Shadow of rotating black holes with consistent thermodynamics

Quantum effects in general induce scale dependence in the coupling constants. We explore this possibility in gravity, with a scale-dependent Newton coupling. When applied to Kerr black holes with such a running coupling, the consistency of black hole thermodynamics requires that the Newton coupling have a specific dependence on the black hole parameters. In this work, we consider such a class of Newton couplings and look for the possible observational implications on the highly lensed images of the black holes. In addition to placing constraints on the parameter space of the model through the latest Sgr A* images, we find that the variations in the shape of shadows in a large portion of the parameter space can be qualitatively captured by a quantity solely defined by the event horizon. Most importantly, the consistency of thermodynamics suggests a lower bound on the shadow size, beyond which either horizon disappears, or the shadow cannot keep the standard D-shaped structure. The possibility that the black holes in this model could spin faster than the Kerr bound, and the physical implications of the resulting cuspy shadows, are also discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Bianchi-I cosmology with scale dependent $G$ and $\Lambda$ in asymptotically safe gravity

We study anisotropic Bianchi-I cosmology, incorporating quantum gravitational corrections into the Einstein equation through the scale-dependent Newton coupling and cosmological term, as determined by the flow equation of the effective action for gravity. For the classical cosmological constant $\Lambda_0=0$, we derive the quantum mechanically corrected, or quantum-improved power-series solution for a general equation-of-state parameter $w$ in the range $-1 0$, we obtain the inverse power-series solution in the exponential of the cosmic time. We find that the universe always becomes isotropic in the late time, in accordance with the cosmic no hair theorem, and the quantum corrections make the isotropization faster. We also briefly summarize the Kasner solution and its generalization with quantum corrections.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Essential Renormalization Group Equation for Gravity coupled to a Scalar field

We study the essential renormalization group equation, in which inessential couplings are removed via field redefinitions, for Einstein gravity coupled to a massive scalar field in the presence of a cosmological constant. Our results indicate that perturbatively nonrenormalizable terms can be eliminated due to the cosmological term, in contrast to the case of perturbation around flat spacetime. We find a nontrivial fixed point for the Newton coupling and the cosmological term.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Standard Running, "Physical Running", Cosmological Constant and Newton Coupling

Recently it is asserted that the standard beta function does not describe the correct running of the coupling constant in some theories. We show that the problem arises from the assumption $\mu=p$ ($\mu$ is a renormalization point) and that a suitable choice of $\mu$ gives the correct running. It is also claimed that neither the cosmological constant nor Newton coupling run. We argue that running can be discussed when we consider the curved spacetime.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

On the Cutoff Scale Identification of FLRW Cosmology in Asymptotically Safe Gravity

We examine Friedmann-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker cosmology, incorporating quantum gravitational corrections through the functional renormalization group flow of the effective action for gravity. We solve the Einstein equation with quantum improved coupling perturbatively including the case with non-vanishing classical cosmological constant (CC) which was overlooked in the literatures. We discuss what is the suitable identification of the momentum cutoff $k$ with time scale, and find that the choice of the Hubble parameter is suitable for vanishing CC but not so for non-vanishing CC. We suggest suitable identification in this case. The energy-scale dependent running coupling breaks the time translation symmetry and then introduces a new physical scale.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Wave Function Renormalization in Asymptotically Safe Quantum Gravity

We discuss the effect of wave function renormalization (WFR) in asymptotically safe gravity. We show that there are two WFR-invariant quantities, and the renormalization (RG) equations may be written entirely in terms of these quantities. The same set of RG equations can be obtained whether we fix the vacuum energy or Newton coupling along the RG trajectory. The flow of the Newton constant and the vacuum energy is also discussed in detail. In particular we discuss how the vacuum energy behaves near the singular barrier in the low energy.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

An Observation on the Beta Functions in Quadratic Gravity

We study the beta functions for the dimensionless couplings in quadratic curvature gravity, and find that there is a simple argument to restrict the possible form of the beta functions as derived from the counterterms at an arbitrary loop. The relation to the recent different results on beta functions is also commented on.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Phase Structure of Quantum Improved Schwarzschild-(Anti)de Sitter Black Holes

We study the phase structure of quantum improved Schwarzschild-(A)dS black holes in asymptotically safe gravity. Our results confirm some of the well-known properties of quantum black holes. For example, the quantum effect provides a repulsive force in the core region near singularity which stabilizes the thermodynamically unstable small black holes, and also creates a zero temperature state with finite size. We suggest that this could be a candidate for dark matter. We find a new second order phase transition between small and large black holes for quantum improved Schwarzschild-Anti de Sitter black holes. We also discuss the black holes with different spatial topologies and find a notable duality.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

On the local term in the anomaly-induced action of Weyl quantum gravity

The finite local conformally non-invariant $R^2$-term emerges in the one-loop effective action of the model of quantum gravity based on the Weyl-squared classical action. This term is related to the $\Box R$ contribution to the conformal anomaly, which in a wide class of regularization schemes is determined by the second Schwinger-DeWitt (or Gilkey-Seeley) coefficient of the heat kernel expansion for inverse propagators of the theory. The calculation of this term requires evaluating the contributions of the fourth-order derivative minimal and of the second-order nonminimal operators in the tensor and vector sectors of the theory, corresponding to metric, ghost and gauge-fixing operators. To ensure the correctness of existing formulas, we derived (and confirmed) the result using a special technique of calculations, based on the heat-kernel representation of the Euclidean Green's function and the method of universal functional traces.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

One-loop divergences in higher-derivative gravity

We give a review of the one-loop divergences in higher derivative gravity theories. We first make the bilinear expansion in the quantum fluctuation on arbitrary backgrounds, introduce a higher-derivative gauge fixing and show that higher-derivative gauge fixing must have ghosts in addition to those naively expected. We give general formulae for the one-loop divergences in such theories, and give explicit results for theories with quadratic curvature terms. In this calculation, we need the heat kernel coefficients for the four-derivative minimal operators and two-derivative nonminimal vector operators, which are summarized. We also discuss the beta functions in the renormalization group, and show that the dimensionless couplings are asymptotically free. The calculation is also extended to the theories with arbitrary functions of $R$ and $R_{μν}^2$. We show that the result is independent of metric parametrization and gauge on shell.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Quantum Improved Regular Kerr Black Holes

We study the quantum improvement of Kerr black holes with mass-dependent scale identifications in asymptotically safe gravity. We find that a physically sensible identification can only be a function of $Mr$ and the area $A=4\pi(r^2+a^2)$ where $M$ is the mass of the black hole and $a$ is an angular momentum parameter. We then discuss various properties of the rotating quantum black holes for a simple choice of the identification. We show that the resulting regular rotating black holes have the following nice properties: (i) admitting a consistent black hole thermodynamics at the horizon, (ii) resolving the ring singularity, (iii) partially eliminating closed time-like curves present in the classical Kerr black holes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Wave Function Renormalization and Flow of Couplings in Asymptotically Safe Quantum Gravity

The importance of the proper treatment of the wave function renormalization in the renormalization group analysis of quantum gravity is pointed out. The renormalization factor, sometimes called an inessential coupling, can be used to fix any one of the coupling constants, with the exception of the coupling constants that remain unchanged by the rescaling of the field. Choosing to fix the cosmological constant, we propose to use a new regulator to obtain the renormalization group equations for invariant couplings which tell us the flow of the Newton and $R^2$ couplings. We find that the Newton coupling reaches a nontrivial ultraviolet fixed point (FP) and becomes small in the low energy, but find only asymptotically free FP of the $R^2$ couplings for the higher-derivative gauge fixing and regulator. For the asymptotically free FP, we find that both of the two independent terms are relevant operators in the high energy. It is noted that the existence of nontrivial FPs may depend on the choice of the gauge and regulator.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Running Newton Coupling, Scale Identification and Black Hole Thermodynamics

We discuss the quantum improvement of black hole solutions in the context of asymptotic safety. The Newton coupling in this formulation depends on an energy scale, which must be identified with some length scale in order to study physical consequences to black holes. However, no physical principle has so far been known for the identification. Here we propose that the consistency of the first law of thermodynamics is the principle that should determine physically sensible scale identification, at least close to the horizon. We show that this leads to a natural solution that the Newton coupling should be a function of the horizon area and find a universal formula for the quantum entropy, which agrees with the standard Bekenstein-Hawking entropy for constant Newton coupling, for Kerr black holes and other higher-dimensional black holes. This suggests that the Newton coupling is a function of the area near the horizon, and also away to infinity, where the quantum effects may not be so important.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Covariant BRST Quantization of Unimodular Gravity II -- Formulation with a vector antighost --

In our previous paper, we have presented a covariant BRST quantization of unimodular gravity which may account for the smallness of the cosmological constant, and have shown that the physical degrees of freedom in the theory are the same as general relativity. The formulation has been given by using rank-2 antisymmetric tensor fields for both ghosts and antighosts. Here we give an alternative formulation using a vector field for the antighost but keeping the same structure for the ghosts. This gives a significantly simpler covariant quantization with less ghosts and no tripole modes in the ghost sector. We show that this also gives only two physical transverse modes as in general relativity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Covariant BRST Quantization of Unimodular Gravity I -- Formulation with antisymmetric tensor ghosts --

Unimodular gravity (UG) is an interesting theory that may explain why the cosmological constant is extremely small, in contrast to general relativity (GR). The theory has only the transverse diffeomorphism invariance and this causes lots of debate as to the equivalence of UG to GR in the covariant quantization. We study the covariant BRST quantization of UG by gauge fixing only the transverse diffeomorphism and show that the remaining physical degrees of freedom are two, the same number as GR. This is achieved by using antisymmetric tensor ghost fields which automatically satisfy the transverse condition without nonlocal projection operator. The theory exhibits the ghosts for ghosts phenomenon, which requires further gauge fixing and introduction of more ghosts. We identify the BRST quartet structure among the various fields and single out the remaining physical degrees of freedom.

hep-th↗