Fixed Points of Quantum Gravity and the Dimensionality of the UV Critical Surface

Abstract: We study quantum effects in higher curvature extensions of general relativity using the functional renormalisation group. New flow equations are derived for general classes of models involving Ricci scalar, Ricci tensor, and Riemann tensor interactions. Our method is applied to test the asymptotic safety conjecture for quantum gravity with polynomial Riemann tensor interactions of the form $\sim\int \sqrt{g} \,(R_{\mu\nu\sigma\tau}R^{\mu\nu\sigma\tau})^n$ and $\sim\int \sqrt{g} \, R\cdot(R_{\mu\nu\sigma\tau}R^{\mu\nu\sigma\tau})^n$, and functions thereof. Interacting fixed points, universal scaling dimensions, gaps in eigenvalue spectra, quantum equations of motion, and de Sitter solutions are identified by combining high order polynomial approximations, Pad\'e resummations, and full numerical integration. Most notably, we discover that quantum-induced shifts of scaling dimensions can lead to a four-dimensional ultraviolet critical surface. Increasingly higher-dimensional interactions remain irrelevant and show near-Gaussian scaling and signatures of weak coupling. Moreover, a new equal weight condition is put forward to identify stable eigenvectors to all orders in the expansion. Similarities and differences with results from the Einstein-Hilbert approximation, $f(R)$ approximations, and $f(R,{\rm Ric}^2)$ models are highlighted and the relevance of findings for quantum gravity and the asymptotic safety conjecture is discussed.