Quantum field theory in de Sitter space - Renormalization by point-splitting
Abstract
The modes of a scalar field in de Sitter space are studied, and quantum two-point functions are constructed. These are then used to compute a finite stress tensor by the technique of covariant point-splitting. A renormalization ansatz based on the DeWitt-Schwinger expansion is proposed, which removes all ambiguities previously present in point-splitting regularization. The results agree in detail with previous work by dimensional regularization, and give rise to an anomalous trace with the conventional coefficient. The treatment is extended to more general situations.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A
- Pub Date:
- March 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1098/rspa.1978.0060
- Bibcode:
- 1978RSPSA.360..117B
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics;
- Field Theory (Physics);
- Quantum Theory;
- Space-Time Functions;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Stress Tensors;
- Universe;
- Astrophysics;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- FIELD THEORY (PHYSICS);
- QUANTUM THEORY;
- SPACE-TIME FUNCTIONS;
- GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS;
- STRESS TENSORS;
- UNIVERSE