Quantum Gravitational Corrections to Electromagnetism And Backreaction

Abstract

This dissertation examines the impact of quantum gravity on electromagnetism and its backreaction, using perturbative general relativity as an effective field theory. Our analysis involves quantum-correcting Maxwell's equations to obtain a gauge-independent, real, and causal effective field equation that describes quantum gravitational effects on electromagnetism. Additionally, we present a perturbative mechanism through which quantum gravity induces a dimension six coupling between a massive scalar and electromagnetism. To investigate the effects of electromagnetism on the gravitational sector, we derive an exact, dimensionally regulated, Fourier mode sum for the Lorentz gauge propagator of a massive photon on an arbitrary cosmological background supported by a scalar inflaton. This allows us to calculate the effective potential induced by photons. Finally, we use a similar Fourier mode sum for a time-dependent mass to study the effective force on the inflaton 0-mode and its impact on reheating.