Regular Solutions in Higher-Derivative Gravity

Abstract

Local gravitational theories with more than four derivatives can have remarkable quantum properties. Namely, they can be super-renormalizable and may be unitary in the Lee-Wick sense, if the massive poles of the propagator are complex. It is important, therefore, to also explore the classical aspects of these theories. In this talk we present recent results in this direction. Specifically, we discuss the effect that that higher-order terms can have on the Newtonian potential and related singularities.

Keywords

• higher-derivative gravity
• Lee-Wick gravity
• non-local gravity
• spacetime singularities