Isotropic Quantum Cosmology Research Articles

A note on the scalar products in sLQC

Solvable loop quantum cosmology provides a simple model of spatially flat, homogeneous, and isotropic quantum cosmology where the initial singularity is resolved. A close inspection of the literature reveals that there exist two different proposals for a scalar product that are usually assumed to be identical, but agree only in the large volume limit. The small volume limit, and thus the reported difference, turns out to be important for questions such as coarse graining fundamental quantum states in full theory embeddings of these cosmological models.

Generalized uncertainty principle and the conformally coupled scalar field quantum cosmology

We exactly solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for the closed homogeneous and isotropic quantum cosmology in the presence of a conformally coupled scalar field and in the context of the generalized uncertainty principle. This form of generalized uncertainty principle is motivated by the black hole physics and it predicts a minimal length uncertainty proportional to the Planck length. We construct wave packets in momentum minisuperspace which closely follow classical trajectories and strongly peak on them upon choosing appropriate initial conditions. Moreover, based on the DeWitt criterion, we obtain wave packets that exhibit singularity-free behavior.

On the conformally coupled scalar field quantum cosmology

We propose a new initial condition for the homogeneous and isotropic quantum cosmology, where the source of the gravitational field is a conformally coupled scalar field, and the maximally symmetric hypersurfaces have positive curvature. After solving corresponding Wheeler–DeWitt equation, we obtain exact solutions in both classical and quantum levels. We propose appropriate initial condition for the wave packets which results in a complete classical and quantum correspondence. These wave packets closely follow the classical trajectories and peak on them. We also quantify this correspondence using de Broglie–Bohm interpretation of quantum mechanics. Using this proposal, the quantum potential vanishes along the Bohmian paths and the classical and Bohmian trajectories coincide with each other. We show that the model contains singularities even at the quantum level. Therefore, the resulting wave packets closely follow the classical trajectories from big-bang to big-crunch.

Effective equations for isotropic quantum cosmology including matter

Effective equations often provide powerful tools to develop a systematic understanding of detailed properties of a quantum system. This is especially helpful in quantum cosmology where several conceptual and technical difficulties associated with the full quantum equations can be avoided in this way. Here, effective equations for Wheeler-DeWitt and loop quantizations of spatially flat, isotropic cosmological models sourced by a massive or interacting scalar are derived and studied. The resulting systems are remarkably different from that given for a free, massless scalar. This has implications for the coherence of evolving states and the realization of a bounce in loop quantum cosmology.

The Causal Interpretation of Conformally Coupled Scalar Field Quantum Cosmology

We apply the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics to homogeneous and isotropic quantum cosmology, where the source of the gravitational field is a conformally coupled scalar field, and the maximally symmetric hypersurfaces have positive curvature. In order to simplify the system of coupled equations studied and study the quantum behavior near the singularity, we restricted ourselves to the cases where the scale factor is small. In this case, the general solution of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation is a discrete superposition of Hermitian polynomials multiplied by complex exponentials. Superpositions with up to two parcels are studied, and the phase diagrams of their corresponding Bohmian trajectories are analyzed in detail. Nonsingular periodic quantum solutions are found. We also find that singular quantum solutions present an inflationary era in the begining of the Universe. Numerical calculations indicates that these results remain valid for general superpositions.

The causal interpretation of dust and radiation fluid non-singular quantum cosmologies

We apply the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics to homogeneous and isotropic quantum cosmology where the sources of the gravitational field are either dust or radiation perfect fluids. We find non-singular quantum trajectories which tends to the classical one when the scale factor becomes much larger then the Planck length. In this situation, the quantum potential becomes negligible. There are no horizons. As radiation is a good approximation for the matter content of the early universe, this result suggests that the universe can be eternal due to quantum effects.