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Higher-Derivative Quantum Gravity with Purely Virtual Particles: Renormalizability and Unitarity

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arxiv 2305.12549 v2 pith:ZYDXNWVJ submitted 2023-05-21 hep-th gr-qc

Higher-Derivative Quantum Gravity with Purely Virtual Particles: Renormalizability and Unitarity

classification hep-th gr-qc
keywords quantumgravityparticlespurelyvirtualfieldhigher-derivativerenormalizability
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal T4 reserved
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We review the formulation of quantum field theories with purely virtual particles, a new type of degrees of freedom that can mediate interactions without ever appear as external on-shell states. This property allows to solve the problem of ghosts in higher-derivative quantum gravity, leading to a renormalizable and unitary theory. The main steps for the BRST quantization of gravity are recalled and renormalizability is discussed. Then, we introduce purely virtual particles in a general quantum field theory and show the derivation of the so-called spectral identities, which are a key ingredient to prove unitarity. Finally, phenomenological consequences and predictions in inflationary cosmology are presented.

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Cited by 2 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Physical nonviability of $f(\mathbb{Q})$ in the scalar-tensor representation

    gr-qc 2026-06 conditional novelty 4.0

    The scalar-tensor representation of f(Q) gravity reproduces the known ghost/strong-coupling obstruction, so the pathology is not an artifact of the original variables.

  2. Physical nonviability of $f(\mathbb{Q})$ in the scalar-tensor representation

    gr-qc 2026-06 unverdicted novelty 2.0

    f(Q) gravity exhibits pathological behavior in its scalar-tensor representation.