Classical and quantum aspects of Galileon theories
I discuss classical and quantum features of the Galileon theory
and the effective theory of branes within a Minkowski bulk, which
belongs to the class of generalized Galileon theories.
In the first part of the talk, I describe classical solutions
of the brane theory that can be interpreted as branes connected
with evolving throats or as shock-front configurations of
the worldvolume theory. I discuss connections with
classicalization, solutions of the Galileon theory and the
Vainshtein mechanism.
In the second part of the talk I present the computation of
one-loop corrections in the cubic Galileon and brane theories.
I discuss the implications for the structure of these theories
and, in particular, the presence of ghosts. Finally, I present
the renormalization-group evolution of the couplings of the
brane theory and explore the connection with the senario of
asymptotic safety in gravity.