Probing Vacuum with Variational Methods in Quantum Gravity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a variational approach to compute quantum corrections to vacuum energy in quantum gravity, comparing it with effective potential methods, and discusses implications for foam-like spacetime structures.

Contribution

It applies variational methods to quantum gravity for the first time, providing a new computational approach for quantum corrections in vacuum energy.

Findings

Quantum corrections to vacuum energy are calculated using variational methods.

Comparison shows consistency with quadratic order effective potential calculations.

Implications for foam-like spacetime scenarios are discussed.

Abstract

We use variational methods to calculate quasilocal energy quantum corrections. A comparison with the effective potential calculated at quadratic order is made by means of gaussian wave functionals. The method is a particular case of the effective action for composite operators used in quantum field theory. In pure gravity the method is applied for the first time. Implications on the foam-like scenario are discussed.