Non-perturbative path integral of 2d dilaton gravity and two-loop effects from scalar matter Original Research Article

Performing a non-perturbative path integral for the geometric part of a large class of 2d theories without a kinetic term for the dilaton field, the quantum effects from scalar matter fields are treated as a perturbation. When integrated out to two-loops they yield a correction to the Polyakov term which is still exact in the geometric part. Interestingly enough the effective action only experiences a renormalization of the dilaton potential.