One-loop Quantum Gravity in Schwarzschild Spacetime

Abstract

The quantum theory of linearized perturbations of the gravitational field of a Schwarzschild black hole is presented. The fundamental operators are seen to be the perturbed Weyl scalars $\dot\Psi_0$ and $\dot\Psi_4$ associated with the Newman-Penrose description of the classical theory. Formulae are obtained for the expectation values of the modulus squared of these operators in the Boulware, Unruh and Hartle-Hawking quantum states. Differences between the renormalized expectation values of both $\bigl| \dot\Psi_0 \bigr|^2$ and $\bigl| \dot\Psi_4 \bigr|^2$ in the three quantum states are evaluated numerically.