Scalar matter coupled to quantum gravity in the causal approach. One-loop calculations and perturbative gauge invariance (Q5934237)

The author applies the quantum theoretical approach to a scalar matter field coupled to gravity. An improved perturbation scheme which has as central objects the time-ordered products is employed and principle causality is constructed. In this paper mainly three aspects of quantum gravity are considered. (1) The calculations of loop graphs, which include the lower order massive and massless scalar loop corrections to the graviton propagator and to the matter self-energy. The ultraviolet finite and cutoff-free result are obtained using the techniques of causal perturbation theory for the S-matrix and the Epstein-Glaser regularization scheme without introducing nonrenormalizable counterterms. (2) The investigation of the gauge properties of the graviton self-energy. (3) The investigation of the connection between the three graph sector and a quartic matter-graviton interaction.