Quantum gravity as a low energy effective field theory

Abstract

An Effective Field Theory is one which uses only the active degrees of freedom available at some energy. A full quantum field theory treatment is applied. When done properly, the results encode the quantum corrections appropriate to that energy. The perturbative treatment of quantum General Relativity behaves as an effective field theory, and well defined quantum corrections can be calculated. This review discusses effective field theory and its application to general relativity.