Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A bstract We study the dynamics of linear gravitational perturbations on cosmological backgrounds of massive fermionic fields. We observe that, when gravitational and matter action are expanded to quadratic order in gravitational perturbations on cosmological backgrounds, the graviton appears to have an off-shell mass. We derive a consistent set of two equations for the evolution of linear classical and quantum gravitational perturbations on general cosmological backgrounds, and demonstrate that the graviton mass disappears at the level of equations of motion (on-shell). In this work we consider a Universe whose expansion is driven by the one-loop quantum backreaction of fermions, and dynamical gravitons that evolve on that same background. These equations govern the evolution of linear gravitational perturbations on general cosmological matter backgrounds. A concrete one-loop calculation is performed for the simple case of massive Dirac fermions when the temperature of the cosmological fluid changes adiabatically when compared with the expansion rate of the Universe.
Source: Journal of High Energy Physics
Authors: Leihua Liu, Tomislav Prokopec
Institutions: Jishou University, Utrecht University
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: G4827669817, G6491146230
OpenAlex ID: W4410610269