Scalar Weyl anomalies and the dynamics of the gravitational field

TL;DR

This paper explores how Weyl anomalies in scalar-gravity couplings depend on the gravitational field's dynamics, highlighting the interplay between scale invariance and gravitational effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the sensitivity of Weyl anomalies to the gravitational field's dynamics in scalar field theories.

Findings

Weyl anomalies vary with gravitational dynamics.

Scalar couplings' anomaly values depend on gravitational field behavior.

Insights into scale invariance in gravitational contexts.

Abstract

The generalization of scale invariance when gravitational effects are considered is Weyl invariance, namely, invariance under (global or local) rescalings of the metric. In this work, we discuss in some details the implications of the fact that the value of the anomaly for the global Weyl invariant coupling of scalar fields to gravity is sensitive to the dynamics (or absence thereof) of the gravitational field.