1–5 Sept 2026
University of Sussex
Europe/London timezone

Scalar Matter in Lorentzian Quantum Gravity

Not scheduled
1m
Large Lecture Theatre (Jubilee Building)

Large Lecture Theatre

Jubilee Building

Speaker

Rowan Packer (University of Sussex)

Description

We study the interplay of scalar matter with quantum gravity in the Lorentzian signature using the recently developed spectral fRG. The spectral fRG is based on the Callan-Symanzik cutoff, which acts as a scale-dependent mass and preserves the Källén-Lehmann spectral representation, in combination with dimensional regularisation. In this setup, we compute the impact of N_S minimally coupled scalars on the gravitational UV fixed point and on the transverse-traceless graviton spectral function. Scalar matter increases the strength of the fixed-point Newton coupling, and beyond N_S = 21, the fixed point is lost. A similar behaviour was found in previous Euclidean studies. Remarkably, scalar matter provides a strictly positive and gauge-independent contribution to the graviton spectral function, leaving the property of positivity intact.

Affiliation Univeristy of Sussex
Career status Student

Author

Rowan Packer (University of Sussex)

Co-author

Prof. Manuel Reichert (University of Sussex)

Presentation materials

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