Four-derivative interactions in asymptotically safe gravity

TL;DR

This paper investigates the impact of four-derivative interactions, including Weyl-squared terms, on the asymptotic safety scenario of gravity, providing evidence for a non-Gaussian fixed point and its stability under matter coupling.

Contribution

It extends previous functional renormalization group analyses by incorporating Weyl-squared terms and demonstrates the robustness of the non-Gaussian fixed point with scalar matter.

Findings

Evidence for a non-Gaussian fixed point with higher-derivative terms

Persistence of the fixed point when including a scalar field

Higher-derivative terms do not hinder asymptotic safety

Abstract

We summarize recent progress in understanding the role of higher-derivative terms in the asymptotic safety scenario of gravity. Extending previous computations based on the functional renormalization group approach by including a Weyl-squared term in the ansatz for the effective action, further evidence for the existence of a non-Gaussian fixed point is found. The fixed point also persists upon including a minimally coupled free scalar field, providing an explicit example of perturbative counterterms being non-hazardous for asymptotic safety.