Hartree approximation in curved spacetimes revisited: II- The semiclassical Einstein equations and de Sitter self-consistent solutions

Abstract

We consider the semiclassical Einstein equations (SEE) in the presence of a quantum scalar field with self-interaction λ ϕ 4 . Working in the Hartree truncation of the two-particle irreducible effective action, we compute the vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor of the scalar field, which acts as a source of the SEE. We obtain the renormalized SEE by implementing a consistent renormalization procedure. We apply our results to find self-consistent de Sitter solutions to the SEE in situations with or without spontaneous breaking of the Z 2 -symmetry.