Cosmological constant and quantum gravitational corrections to the running fine structure constant

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum gravitational effects, influenced by the cosmological constant, modify the running of the fine structure constant, potentially leading to an ultraviolet fixed point in gauge theories.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the cosmological constant induces a quantum gravitational correction to the charge's renormalization group flow, revealing a new fixed point scenario.

Findings

Quantum gravity affects the charge's running with a non-zero cosmological constant.

A potential ultraviolet fixed point is linked to the cosmological constant.

Results differ from previous theories suggesting fixed points without cosmological influence.

Abstract

The quantum gravitational contribution to the renormalization group behavior of the electric charge in Einstein-Maxwell theory with a cosmological constant is considered. Quantum gravity is shown to lead to a contribution to the running charge not present when the cosmological constant vanishes. This re-opens the possibility, suggested by Robinson and Wilczek, of altering the scaling behaviour of gauge theories at high energies although our result differs. We show the possibility of an ultraviolet fixed point that is linked directly to the cosmological constant.