Quantum Gravitational Contributions to Gauge Field Theories

Abstract

We revisit quantum gravitational contributions to quantum gauge field theories in the gauge condition independent Vilkovisky-DeWitt formalism based on the background field method. With the advantage of Landau-DeWitt gauge, we explicitly obtain the gauge condition independent result for the quadratically divergent gravitational corrections to gauge couplings. By employing, in a general way, a scheme-independent regularization method that can preserve both gauge invariance and original divergent behavior of integrals, we show that the resulting gauge coupling is power-law running and asymptotically free. The regularization scheme dependence is clarified by comparing with results obtained by other methods. The loop regularization scheme is found to be applicable for a consistent calculation.

Comments: 17 pages, published version, emphasis on the proper treatment of quadratic divergence in the quantum gravitational computation, regularization dependence is clarified in comparison with other calculations, references added