Discussion of physical realization of coordinates demonstrates that the quantum theory of gravity (still absent) should be non-local and, probably, non-commutative as well.
We discuss a variation of quadratic gravity in which the gravitational interaction remains weakly coupled at all energies, but is assisted by a Yang-Mills gauge theory which becomes strong at the Planck scale. The Yang-Mills interaction is used to induce the usual Einstein-Hilbert term, which was taken to be small or absent in the original action. We study the spin-two propagator in detail, with a focus on the high mass resonance which is shifted off the real axis by the coupling to real decay channels. We calculate scattering in the $J=2$ partial wave and show explicitly that unitarity is satisfied. The theory will in general have a large cosmological constant and we study possible solutions to this, including a unimodular version of the theory. Overall, the theory satisfies our present tests for being a ultraviolet completion of quantum gravity.
Studies in string theory and quantum gravity suggest the existence of a finite lower limit $Delta x_0$ to the possible resolution of distances, at the latest on the scale of the Planck length of $10^{-35}m$. Within the framework of the euclidean path integral we explicitly show ultraviolet regularisation in field theory through this short distance structure. Both rotation and translation invariance can be preserved. An example geometry is studied in detail.
We study the impact of quantum gravity on a system of chiral fermions that are charged under an Abelian gauge group. Under the impact of quantum gravity, a finite value of the gauge coupling could be generated and in turn drive four-fermion interactions to criticality. We find indications that the gravity-gauge-fermion interplay protects the lightness of fermions for a large enough number of fermions. On the other hand, for a smaller number of fermions, chiral symmetry may be broken, which would be in tension with the observation of light fermions.
Causality in quantum field theory is defined by the vanishing of field commutators for space-like separations. However, this does not imply a direction for causal effects. Hidden in our conventions for quantization is a connection to the definition of an arrow of causality, i.e. what is the past and what is the future. If we mix quantization conventions within the same theory, we get a violation of microcausality. In such a theory with mixed conventions the dominant definition of the arrow of causality is determined by the stable states. In some quantum gravity theories, such as quadratic gravity and possibly asymptotic safety, such a mixed causality condition occurs. We discuss some of the implications.
The effect of gravitational fluctuations on the quantum effective potential for scalar fields is a key ingredient for predictions of the mass of the Higgs boson, understanding the gauge hierarchy problem and a possible explanation of an---asymptotically---vanishing cosmological constant. We find that the quartic self-interaction of the Higgs scalar field is an irrelevant coupling at the asymptotically safe ultraviolet fixed point of quantum gravity. This renders the ratio between the masses of the Higgs boson and top quark predictable. If the flow of couplings below the Planck scale is approximated by the Standard Model, this prediction is consistent with the observed value. The quadratic term in the Higgs potential is irrelevant if the strength of gravity at short distances exceeds a bound that is determined here as a function of the particle content. In this event, a tiny value of the ratio between the Fermi scale and the Planck scale is predicted.