Quantum-Gravity Screening Effect of the Cosmological Constant in the DeSitter Space–Time

Abstract

Small-amplitude quantum-gravity periodic perturbations of the metric tensor, occurring in sequences of phase-shifted oscillations, are investigated for vacuum conditions and in the context of the manifestly-covariant theory of quantum gravity. The theoretical background is provided by the Hamiltonian representation of the quantum hydrodynamic equations yielding, in turn, quantum modifications of the Einstein field equations. It is shown that in the case of the DeSitter space–time sequences of small-size periodic perturbations with prescribed frequency are actually permitted, each one with its characteristic initial phase. The same perturbations give rise to non-linear modifications of the Einstein field equations in terms of a suitable stochastic-averaged and divergence-free quantum stress-energy tensor. As a result, a quantum-driven screening effect arises which is shown to affect the magnitude of the cosmological constant. Observable features on the DeSitter space–time solution and on the graviton mass estimate are pointed out.