$D\to4$ Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet Gravity and Beyond

TL;DR

This paper develops a novel four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity theory using dimensional regularization, explores its cosmological solutions, and extends the approach to higher curvature and string-inspired theories, revealing connections to Horndeski and Galileon models.

Contribution

It introduces a consistent four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity via dimensional regularization and links it to Horndeski and Galileon theories, addressing previous issues with the model's well-posedness.

Findings

The four-dimensional action matches a specific Horndeski theory.

Cosmological solutions of the new theory are examined.

The approach extends to Lovelock and string-inspired theories, revealing new connections.

Abstract

A `novel' pure theory of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity in four-spacetime dimensions can be constructed by rescaling the Gauss-Bonnet coupling constant, seemingly eluding Lovelock's theorem. Recently, however, the well-posedness of this model has been called into question. Here we apply a `dimensional regularization' technique, first used by Mann and Ross to write down a $D\to2$ limit of general relativity, to the case of pure Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. The resulting four-dimensional action is a particular Horndeski theory of gravity matching the result found via a Kaluza-Klein reduction over a flat internal space. Some cosmological solutions of this four-dimensional theory are examined. We further adapt the technique to higher curvature Lovelock theories of gravity, as well as a low-energy effective string action with an $\alpha'$ correction. With respect to the $D\to4$ limit of the $\alpha'$-corrected string action, we find we must also rescale the dilaton to have a non-singular action in four dimensions. Interestingly, when the conformal rescaling $\Phi$ is interpreted as another dilaton, the regularized string action appears to be a special case of a covariant multi-Galileon theory of gravity.