  In the asymptotic-safety scenario for gravity, nonzero interactions are
present in the ultraviolet. This property should also percolate into the matter
sector. Symmetry- based arguments suggest that nonminimal derivative
interactions of scalars with curvature tensors should therefore be present in
the ultraviolet regime. We perform a nonminimal test of the viability of the
asymptotic-safety scenario by working in a truncation of the Renormalization
Group flow, where we discover the existence of an interacting fixed point for a
corresponding nonminimal coupling. The back-coupling of such nonminimal
interactions could in turn destroy the asymptotically safe fixed point in the
gravity sector. As a key finding, we observe nontrivial indications of
stability of the fixed-point properties under the impact of nonminimal
derivative interactions, further strengthening the case for asymptotic safety
in gravity-matter systems.
