Work

Cancellation of one-parameter graviton gauge dependence in the effective scalar field equation in de Sitter

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A bstract We investigate gauge dependence of one-graviton-loop corrections to the effective field equation of the massless, minimally coupled scalar in de Sitter, obtained by including source and observer corrections to the effective self-mass correcting the equation. Using the ∆ α variation of the de Sitter-breaking graviton propagator in a one-parameter family of gauges, we compute the gauge-dependent contributions to the effective self-mass of a massless minimally coupled scalar mediating interactions between heavy scalars. We show that gauge dependence cancels provided the contributions from all diagram classes are collected, including one-loop corrections to external mode functions, which play a qualitatively new role relative to flat space. The resulting cancellation supports the construction of graviton gauge-independent cosmological quantum-gravitational observables from quantum-corrected effective equations.

Source: Journal of High Energy Physics

DOI: 10.1007/jhep04(2026)159

Authors: Dražen Glavan, Shun-Pei Miao, Tomislav Prokopec, Richard P. Woodard

Institutions: FZU - Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Utrecht University, University of Florida

Language: English

Topic: Cosmology and Gravitation Theories

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Grantová Agentura České Republiky, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, National Science and Technology Council

Awards: G6491146230, The Other Side of Axions, The Magnetic Universe