Quantum Gravitational Contributions to Gauge Field Theories

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum gravity affects gauge field theories, demonstrating that gravitational corrections lead to power-law running and asymptotic freedom of gauge couplings using a scheme-independent regularization approach.

Contribution

It provides a gauge condition independent calculation of gravitational corrections to gauge couplings and clarifies scheme dependence using a regularization method compatible with gauge invariance.

Findings

Gravitational corrections induce power-law running of gauge couplings.

Gauge couplings become asymptotically free due to gravitational effects.

Loop regularization scheme is suitable for consistent calculations.

Abstract

We revisit quantum gravitational contributions to quantum gauge field theories in the gauge condition independent Vilkovisky-DeWitt formalism based on the background field method. With the advantage of Landau-DeWitt gauge, we explicitly obtain the gauge condition independent result for the quadratically divergent gravitational corrections to gauge couplings. By employing, in a general way, a scheme-independent regularization method that can preserve both gauge invariance and original divergent behavior of integrals, we show that the resulting gauge coupling is power-law running and asymptotically free. The regularization scheme dependence is clarified by comparing with results obtained by other methods. The loop regularization scheme is found to be applicable for a consistent calculation.