  We show that in the quadratic curvature theory of gravity, or simply $R_{\mu
\nu} ^2$ gravity, the tree-level unitariy bound (tree unitarity) is violated in
the UV region but an analog for $S$-matrix unitarity ($SS^{\dagger} = 1$) is
satisfied. This theory is renormalizable, and hence the failure of tree
unitarity is a counter example of Llewellyn Smith's conjecture on the relation
between them. We have recently proposed a new conjecture that $S$-matrix
unitarity gives the same conditions as renormalizability. We verify that
$S$-matrix unitarity holds in the matter-graviton scattering at tree level in
the $R_{\mu \nu} ^2$ gravity, demonstrating our new conjecture.

High Energy Physics - Theory;General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology