Quantum Gravity Corrections to the One Loop Scalar Self-Mass during Inflation

TL;DR

This paper calculates quantum gravity corrections to the scalar field's self-mass during inflation, aiming to understand their impact on inflationary dynamics using one-loop quantum gravity effects.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed computation of one-loop quantum gravity corrections to a scalar field in de Sitter space, employing dimensional regularization and BPHZ renormalization.

Findings

Quantum gravity corrections are computed explicitly.

Results indicate potential significance for inflationary scalar dynamics.

Methodology can be applied to other quantum field calculations in curved spacetime.

Abstract

We compute the one loop corrections from quantum gravity to the self-mass-squared of a massless, minimally coupled scalar on a locally de Sitter background. The calculation was done using dimensional regularization and renormalized by subtracting fourth order BPHZ counterterms. Our result should determine whether quantum gravitational loop corrections can significantly alter the dynamics of a scalar inflaton.