Stability of de Sitter spacetime against infrared quantum scalar field fluctuations

Abstract: We study the backreaction of superhorizon fluctuations of a light quantum scalar field on a classical de Sitter geometry by means of the Wilsonian renormalisation group. This allows us to treat the gravitationally amplified fluctuations in a nonperturbative manner and to analytically follow the induced renormalisation flow of the spacetime curvature as long wavelength modes are progressively integrated out. Unbounded loop corrections in the deep infrared are eventually screened by nonperturbative effects which stabilise the geometry.