Quantum Brans-Dicke Gravity in Euclidean Path Integral Formulation

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the conformal properties of Brans-Dicke gravity and demonstrates that its lack of conformal invariance may lead to improved short-distance behavior in quantum gravity formulations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed study of the conformal structure of Brans-Dicke gravity and shows its potential advantages over Einstein gravity in quantum gravity path integrals.

Findings

Brans-Dicke gravity lacks conformal invariance.

This lack of invariance improves short-distance behavior.

Potential implications for quantum gravity formulations.

Abstract

The conformal structure of Brans-Dicke gravity action is carefully studied. It is discussed that Brans-Dicke gravity action has definitely no conformal invariance. It is shown, however, that this lack of conformal invariance enables us to demonstrate that Brans-Dicke theory appears to have a better short-distance behavior than Einstein gravity as far as Euclidean path integral formulation for quantum gravity is concerned.