Graviton backreaction on the local cosmological expansion in slow-roll inflation

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Abstract

We compute the graviton one-loop correction to the expectation value of the local expansion rate in slow-roll inflation, with both slow-roll parameters finite. The calculation is based on a recent method to explicitly construct gauge-invariant observables in perturbative quantum gravity at all orders in perturbation theory, and it is particularly suited in cases of highly-symmetrical space-time backgrounds. Our analysis adds to recent calculations of that correction in de Sitter space-time and in single-field inflation with constant deceleration. In the former case a vanishing one-loop correction was found, while in the latter the quantum backreaction produces a secular effect that accelerates the expansion. The quantum correction we describe here produces a finite secular effect that can either accelerated or decelerate the background expansion, depending on the value of the slow-roll parameters.
Original languageEnglish
Article number135015
Number of pages41
JournalClassical and Quantum Gravity
Volume38
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

© 2021 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Perturbative Quantum Gravity
  • Gauge-invariant Observables
  • Hubble Rate
  • Inflation

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