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Title: Two-loop renormalization of quantum gravity simplified

Abstract

The coefficient of the dimensionally regularized two-loop R 3 divergence of (nonsupersymmetric) gravity theories has recently been shown to change when nondynamical three-forms are added to the theory, or when a pseudoscalar is replaced by the antisymmetric two-form field to which it is dual. This phenomenon involves evanescent operators, whose matrix elements vanish in four dimensions, including the Gauss-Bonnet operator which is also connected to the trace anomaly. On the other hand, these effects appear to have no physical consequences for renormalized scattering processes. In particular, the dependence of the two-loop four-graviton scattering amplitude on the renormalization scale is simple. As a result, we explain this result for any minimally-coupled massless gravity theory with renormalizable matter interactions by using unitarity cuts in four dimensions and never invoking evanescent operators.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
  2. Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States). SLAC National Accelerator Lab.
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
OSTI Identifier:
1355723
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1344612
Report Number(s):
SLAC-PUB-16905
Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010; PRVDAQ
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-76SF00515; SC0009937
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review D
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 95; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; GRQC; HEPTH

Citation Formats

Bern, Zvi, Chi, Huan -Hang, Dixon, Lance, and Edison, Alex. Two-loop renormalization of quantum gravity simplified. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.95.046013.
Bern, Zvi, Chi, Huan -Hang, Dixon, Lance, & Edison, Alex. Two-loop renormalization of quantum gravity simplified. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.95.046013
Bern, Zvi, Chi, Huan -Hang, Dixon, Lance, and Edison, Alex. Wed . "Two-loop renormalization of quantum gravity simplified". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.95.046013. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1355723.
@article{osti_1355723,
title = {Two-loop renormalization of quantum gravity simplified},
author = {Bern, Zvi and Chi, Huan -Hang and Dixon, Lance and Edison, Alex},
abstractNote = {The coefficient of the dimensionally regularized two-loop R 3 divergence of (nonsupersymmetric) gravity theories has recently been shown to change when nondynamical three-forms are added to the theory, or when a pseudoscalar is replaced by the antisymmetric two-form field to which it is dual. This phenomenon involves evanescent operators, whose matrix elements vanish in four dimensions, including the Gauss-Bonnet operator which is also connected to the trace anomaly. On the other hand, these effects appear to have no physical consequences for renormalized scattering processes. In particular, the dependence of the two-loop four-graviton scattering amplitude on the renormalization scale is simple. As a result, we explain this result for any minimally-coupled massless gravity theory with renormalizable matter interactions by using unitarity cuts in four dimensions and never invoking evanescent operators.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevD.95.046013},
journal = {Physical Review D},
number = 4,
volume = 95,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Wed Feb 22 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

Journal Article:

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Cited by: 28 works
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Works referencing / citing this record:

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