One-loop<i>f</i>(<i>R</i>) gravity in de Sitter universe

Abstract

Motivated by the dark energy issue, the one-loop quantization approach for a\nfamily of relativistic cosmological theories is discussed in some detail.\nSpecifically, general $f(R)$ gravity at the one-loop level in a de Sitter\nuniverse is investigated, extending a similar program developed for the case of\npure Einstein gravity. Using generalized zeta regularization, the one-loop\neffective action is explicitly obtained off-shell, what allows to study in\ndetail the possibility of (de)stabilization of the de Sitter background by\nquantum effects. The one-loop effective action maybe useful also for the study\nof constant curvature black hole nucleation rate and it provides the plausible\nway of resolving the cosmological constant problem.\n