Following the same steps made for a scalar field in a parallel publication, we propose a class of perturbative theories of quantum gravity based on fractional operators, where the kinetic… Click to show full abstract
Following the same steps made for a scalar field in a parallel publication, we propose a class of perturbative theories of quantum gravity based on fractional operators, where the kinetic operator of the graviton is made of either fractional derivatives or a covariant fractional d’Alembertian. The classical action for each theory is constructed and the equations of motion are derived. Unitarity and renormalizability of theories with a fractional d’Alembertian are also considered. We argue that unitarity and power-counting renormalizability never coexist, although in some cases one-loop unitary and finiteness are possible. One of the theories is unitary and infrared-finite and can serve as a ghost-free model with large-scale modifications of general relativity.
               
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