Ultraviolet sensitivity of the cosmological sequester

We revisit the sequester proposal of Kaloper, Padilla and collaborators, in which the amplitude of the cosmological constant is decoupled from large contributions due to loops containing Standard Model particles. We review the different formulations of the model that have appeared in the literature, and estimate the importance of a particular class of quantum corrections-those that dress the interaction between the rigid scalars and infrared properties of the spacetime such as its 4-volume and integrated curvature. In formulations that do not adequately sequester graviton loops we argue that dressing of these interactions causes further failures of complete sequestration. We estimate the size of the effect and find that it is typically smaller than the cosmological term directly induced by loops containing a single virtual graviton. Meanwhile, in the most developed formulation of the scenario (where a rigid scalar couples to the Gauss-Bonnet density), this dressing can be absorbed into a resealing of the rigid fields and is therefore harmless.

Automated summary

This study revisits the sequester proposal, evaluates different formulations, and finds a particular class of quantum corrections to be important. In formulations that do not adequately sequester graviton loops, dressing of interactions leads to further failures of complete sequestration, but the effect is typically smaller than the cosmological term induced by single virtual graviton loops. In the most developed scenario, dressing can be absorbed into a resealing of rigid fields, making it harmless.