PIRSA:21100048 Scientific Series Quantum Gravity

DOI10.48660/21100048

Series: Quantum Gravity

Buoninfante, L. (2021). Aspects of ghost-free nonlocal field theories. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/21100048

Buoninfante, Luca. Aspects of ghost-free nonlocal field theories. Perimeter Institute, Oct. 28, 2021, https://pirsa.org/21100048 

@misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:21100048,
  doi = {10.48660/21100048},
  url = {https://pirsa.org/21100048},
  author = {Buoninfante, Luca},
  keywords = {Quantum Gravity},
  language = {en},
  title = {Aspects of ghost-free nonlocal field theories},
  publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
  year = {2021},
  month = {oct},
  note = {PIRSA:21100048 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
}

Abstract

In this talk I introduce nonlocal (infinite derivative) field theories. First of all, I discuss how and which principles of quantum field theory are affected when higher-order derivative operators are taken into account in a Lagrangian. In particular, I focus on the issue of unitarity and on how to make higher-derivative theories healthy by means of non-polynomial differential operators. I extend the treatment to the gravity sector and consider nonlocal theories whose graviton propagators are ghost-free, and explore the possibility of regularizing singularities. Next, I discuss some recent progress in proving perturbative unitarity for a very general class of nonlocal field theories. Finally, I will make some remarks on nonlocality and quantum gravity.

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