The Other ADM

TL;DR

This paper explores the historical and conceptual development of gravity's potential to nonperturbatively screen its own ultraviolet divergences, inspired by Stanley Deser's work, and extends the discussion to cosmological analogues and gravity plus QED.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective on gravity's self-screening of divergences, connecting historical ADM work with modern cosmological and quantum electrodynamics contexts.

Findings

Historical insights into ADM formalism

Cosmological analogue of divergence screening

Initial steps in gravity plus QED analysis

Abstract

In the peculiar manner by which physicists reckon descent, this article is by a "child" and "grandchild" of the late Stanley Deser. We begin by sharing reminiscences of Stanley from over 40 years. Then we turn to a problem which was dear to his heart: the prospect that gravity might nonperturbatively screen its own ultraviolet divergences and those of other theories. After reviewing the original 1960 work by ADM, we describe a cosmological analogue of the problem and then begin the process of implementing it in gravity plus QED.