We investigate the canonical quantization in the framework of N=1 simple supergravity for the case of a very simple gravitational midisuperspace described by Gowdy $T^3$ cosmological models. We consider supersymmetric quantum cosmology in the mentioned midisuperspace, where a matrix representation for the gravitino covector--spinor is used. The full Lorentz constraint and its implications for the wave function of the universe are analyzed in detail. We found that there are indeed physical states in the midisuperspace sector of the theory in contrast to the case of minisuperspace where there exist no physical states.
We develop the canonical quantization of a midisuperspace model which contains, as a subspace, a minisuperspace constituted of a Friedman-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker Universe filled with homogeneous scalar and dust fields, where the sign of the intrinsic curvature of the spacelike hypersurfaces of homogeneity is not specified, allowing the study of topology change in these hypersurfaces. We solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation of the midisuperspace model restricted to this minisuperspace subspace in the semi-classical approximation. Adopting the conditional probability interpretation, we find tha…
This is an introduction to loop quantum cosmology (LQC) reviewing mini- and midisuperspace models as well as homogeneous and inhomogeneous effective dynamics.
We elaborate on the Ashtekar's formalism for spherically symmetric midisuperspaces and, for loop quantization, propound a new quantization scheme which yields a graph-preserving Hamiltonian constraint operator and by which one can impose the fundamental discreteness of loop quantum gravity a la the strategy of "improved" dynamics in loop quantum cosmology (LQC). Remarkable consequences are inferred at the heuristic level of effective dynamics: first, consistency of the constraint algebra regarding the Hamiltonian and diffeomorphism constraints fixes the improved quantization scheme to be of th…
Relational particle mechanics are models in which there is, overall, no time, position, orientation (nor, sometimes, scale). They are useful for whole-universe modelling - the setting for quantum cosmology. This note concerns 3 particles in 1d in shape-scale split variables. The scale part parallels certain Friedmann equations, while in this note the shape part involves functions on the circle. The scale part is taken to be `heavy' and `slow' so the semiclassical approach applies and scale provides an approximate timestandard with repect to which the light physics runs. Relational particle mec…
We study a minisuperspace quantum cosmology for a 2+1 dimensional de Sitter universe and find the wave function both exactly and in WKB approximation. Then we extend the model to a canonically quantized field theory for quantum gravity, i.e., a midisuperspace, and obtain the wave functional of the resulting field theory in the saddle point approximation. It is shown that these two approaches yield different results.
I consider the formulation of hybrid cosmological models that consists of a classical gravitational field interacting with a quantized massive scalar field in the formalism of ensembles on configuration space. This is a viable approach that provides an alternative to semiclassical gravity. I discuss a particular, highly nonclassical solution in two approximations, minisuperspace and spherically-symmetric midisuperspace. In both cases, the coupling of the quantum scalar field and classical gravitational field leads to a cosmological model which has a quantized radius of the universe.
In the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology, inhomogeneous models are usually quantized by means of a hybrid approach that combines loop quantization techniques with standard quantum field theory methods. This approach is based on a splitting of the phase space in a homogeneous sector, formed by global, zero-modes, and an inhomogeneous sector, formed by the remaining, infinite number of modes, that describe the local degrees of freedom. Then, the hybrid quantization is attained by adopting a loop representation for the homogeneous gravitational sector, while a Fock representation is used for th…
We derive a special scalar field potential using the anisotropic Bianchi type I cosmological model from canonical quantum cosmology under determined conditions in the evolution to anisotropic variables $β_\pm$. In the process, we obtain a family of potentials that has been introduced by hand in the literature to explain cosmological data. Considering supersymmetric quantum cosmology, this family is scanned, fixing the exponential potential as more viable in the inflation scenario $\rm V (ϕ) = V_0 \,e^{-\sqrt{3}ϕ}$.
We briefly present the supersymmetric double Darboux method and next apply it to the continuum of the quantum Taub cosmological model as a toy model in order to generate a one-parameter family of bosonic Taub potentials and the corresponding wavefunctions
In this paper we report whether conserved currents can be sensibly defined in supersymmetric minisuperspaces. Our analysis deals with a k=1 FRW model. Supermatter in the form of scalar supermultiplets is included. We show that conserved currents cannot be adequately established except for some very simple scenarios.
Using the superfield approach we construct the n = 2 supersymmetric lagrangian for the FRW Universe with perfect fluid as matter fields. The obtained supersymmetric algebra allowed us to take the square root of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and solve the corresponding quantum constraint. This model leads to the relation between the vacuum energy density and the energy density of the dust matter.
We examine in a cosmological context the conditions for unbroken supersymmetry in N=1 supergravity in D=10 dimensions. We show that the cosmological solutions of the equations of motion obtained considering only the bosonic sector correspond to vacuum states with spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. With a non vanishing gravitino-dilatino condensate we find a solution of the equations of motion that satisfies necessary conditions for unbroken supersymmetry and that smoothly interpolates between Minkowski space and DeSitter space with a linearly growing dilaton, thus providing a possible example…
The canonical theory of (N=1) supergravity, with a matrix representation for the gravitino covector-spinor, is applied to the Bianchi class A spatially homogeneous cosmologies. The full Lorentz constraint and its implications for the wave function of the universe are analyzed in detail. We found that in this model no physical states other than the trivial "rest frame" type occur.
We consider inflationary scenarios for FRLW supersymetric models with a scalar field, whose Wheeler-DeWitt equation has analytic solutions. Following previous work of the authors, we analyse the setting of the scalar field as clock, leading to an effective time dependent wave function, and a time dependent mean value of the scale factor. We study several superpotentials, which lead to an evolution that corresponds to consistent inflationary scenarios.
The canonical quantization of $N=1$ and $N=2$ supergravity theories is reviewed in this report. A special emphasis is given to the topic of supersymmetric Bianchi class-A and FRW minisuperspaces, namely in the presence of supermatter fields. The quantization of the general theory (including supermatter) is also contemplated. The issue of quantum physical states is subsequently analysed. A discussion on further research problems still waiting to be addressed is included. An extensive and updated bibliography concludes this review.
The Multi-scalar field cosmology of the anisotropic Bianchi type I model is used in order to construct a family of potentials that are the best suited to model the inflation phenomenon. We employ the quantum potential approach to quantum mechanics due to Bohm in order to solve the corresponding Wheeler-DeWitt equation; which in turn enables us to restrict sensibly the aforementioned family of potentials. Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics (SUSYQM) is also employed in order to constrain the superpotential function, at the same time the tools from SUSY Quantum Mechanics are used to test the family…
In this paper we investigate whether conserved currents can be sensibly defined in supersymmetric minisuperspaces. Our analysis deals with k=1 FRW and Bianchi class--A models. Supermatter in the form of scalar supermultiplets is included in the former. Moreover, we restrict ourselves to the first-order differential equations derived from the Lorentz and supersymmetry constraints. The ``square-root'' structure of N=1 supergravity was our motivation to contemplate this interesting research. We show that conserved currents cannot be adequately established except for some very simple scenarios. Ot…
The Einstein equations for an isotropic and homogeneous Friedmann--Robertson--Walker Universe in the presence of a quintessence scalar field are shown to be described in a unified way, formally identical to the dynamics of a relativistic particle moving on a two--dimensional spacetime. The correct Lagrangian for the system is presented and used to construct a spinor quantum cosmology theory using Breit's prescription. The theory is supersymmetric when written in Majorana representation. The spinor components interact through a potential that unifies spacetime curvature and quintessence. An exa…
We study the quantum cosmology of the 2D Hawking-Page massless scalar-field model and the homogeneous and isotropic dilation-axion string cosmology.For both models we find new exact solutions for the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and for the supersymmetric wave function equations. We show that the Wheeler-DeWitt equations for the Hawking-Page model and the axion-dilaton string cosmology are invariant under a one-parameter and two-parameter squeezed transformations, respectively. These results allow to find new solutions for the wave functions of these systems at the quantum cosmology level. Also, we…
We consider the effective evolution of a phenomenological model from FLRW supersymmetric quantum cosmology with a scalar field. The scalar field acts as a clock and inflaton. We examine a family of simple superpotentials that produce an inflation whose virtual effect on inhomogeneous fluctuations shows very good agreement with PLANCK observational evidence for the tensor-to-scalar ratio and the scalar spectral index.
In this paper we consider the gauge invariant third quantized model of supersymmetric group field cosmology. The supersymmetric BRST invariance for such theory in non-linear gauge is also analysed. The path integral formulation to the case of a multiverse made up of homogeneous and isotropic spacetimes filled with a perfect fluid is presented. The renormalizability for the scattering of universes in multiverse are established with suitably constructed master equations for connected diagrams and proper vertices. The Slavnov-Taylor identities for this theory hold to all orders of radiative corre…
We analyze the quantum supersymmetric cosmological FRW model with a scalar field, with a conditional probability density and the scalar field identified as time. The Hilbert space has a spinorial structure and there is only one consistent solution, with a conserved probability density. The dynamics of the scale factor is obtained from its mean value. The uncertainty relations are fulfilled and the corresponding fluctuations are consistent with a semiclassical Universe. We give two examples which turn out to have negative potential.
We discuss three separate types of infinities that occur in non-supersymmetric canonical gravity and string theory. We consider UV perturbative singularities in non-supersymmetric gravity coupled to matter and how these are related to loop corrections to beta functions for non-supersymmetric strings. Next we consider classical cosmological singularities that occur in these equations and discuss a specific singular cosmology of Dudas and Mourad for non-supersymmetric string theory. Finally we discuss the infinities that occur in quantum cosmology associated with topology change and discuss how …
In this work a supersymmetric cosmological model is analyzed in which we consider a general superfield action of a homogeneous scalar field supermultiplet interacting with the scale factor in a supersymmetric FRW model. There appear fermionic superpartners associated with both the scale factor and the scalar field, and classical equations of motion are obtained from the super-Wheeler-DeWitt equation through the usual WKB method. The resulting supersymmetric Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations contain extra radiation and stiff matter terms, and we study their solutions in flat space for different s…
This work summarises recent progress obtained by the mini-superpspace quantization of $\mathcal N=1$, $d=4$ supergravity, formulated in the framework of the Bianchi IX cosmological model. The emphasis is put on three main results : the completeness of the solution space obtained, the elements suggesting a hidden Kac-Moody structure of the theory and those leading to conjecture an avoidance of the cosmological singularity by some branches of the wave function of the Universe.
Field theory including Supersymmetry and Bose Fermi Symmetry is an active subject of particle physics and cosmology. Recent and expected observational evidence gives indicators for the creation and destruction of normal and supersymmetric dark matter in the universe. This paper uses Bogoliubov transforms in supersymmetric and Bose Fermi form for obtaining the vaccuum expectation values at any two times in cosmological and black hole geometries. The isotropic Robertson Walker and slightly anisotropic Bianchi I geometry mode functions have a differential equation form analogous to the supersymme…
MSSM predicts the existence of Q-balls, some of which can be entirely stable. Both stable and unstable Q-balls can play an important role in cosmology. In particular, Affleck-Dine baryogenesis can result in a copious production of stable baryonic Q-balls, which can presently exist as a form of dark matter.
We study the quantum dynamics of a supersymmetric squashed three-sphere by dimensionally reducing (to one timelike dimension) the action of D=4 simple supergravity for an SO(3)-homogeneous (Bianchi IX) cosmological model. The quantization of the homogeneous gravitino field leads to a 64-dimensional fermionic Hilbert space. The algebra of the supersymmetry constraints and of the Hamiltonian one is found to close. One finds that the quantum Hamiltonian is built from operators that generate a 64-dimensional representation of the (infinite-dimensional) maximally compact sub-algebra of the rank-3 h…
In this brief review, we comment on the concept of shape invariant potentials, which is an essential feature in many settings of $N=2$ supersymmetric quantum mechanics. To motivate its application within supersymmetric quantum cosmology, we present a case study to illustrate the value of this promising tool. Concretely, we take a spatially flat FRW model in the presence of a single scalar field, minimally coupled to gravity. Then, we extract the associated Schrödinger-Wheeler-DeWitt equation, allowing for a particular scope of factor ordering. Subsequently, we compute the corresponding supersy…
Quantum cosmology may restrict the class of gauge models which unify electroweak and strong interactions. In particular, if one studies the normalizability criterion for the one-loop wave function of the universe in a de Sitter background one finds that the interaction of inflaton and matter fields, jointly with the request of normalizability at one-loop order, picks out non-supersymmetric versions of unified gauge models.
A Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmology with dark energy can be modelled using a quintessence field. That system is equivalent to a relativistic particle moving on a two-dimensional conformal spacetime. When the quintessence behaves as a free massless scalar field in a Universe with cosmological constant, the quantized version of that theory can lead to a Supersymmetric Majorana quantum cosmology. The purpose of this work is to show that such quantum cosmological model correspond to the Maxwell equations for electromagnetic waves propagating in a medium with specific values for its relative per…
We construct Nicolai maps for $N=2$ supersymmetric extensions of minisuperspace models. It is shown that Nicolai maps exist for only a very restricted set of states. In the models considered these are the two states corresponding to the empty and the filled fermion sectors. The form of the Nicolai maps in these sectors is given explicitly, and it is shown that they have a natural stochastic interpretation. This result also suggests a probabilistic interpretation of the wave function.
The quantum cosmology of two-dimensional dilaton-gravity models is investigated. A class of models is mapped onto the constrained oscillator-ghost-oscillator model. A number of exact and approximate solutions to the corresponding Wheeler-DeWitt equation are presented. A wider class of minisuperspace models that can be solved in this fashion is identified. Supersymmetric extensions to the induced gravity theory and the bosonic string theory are then considered and closed-form solutions to the associated quantum constraints are derived. The possibility of applying the third-quantization procedur…
We discuss cosmological implications of nonlinear supersymmetric(NLSUSY) general relativity(GR) of the form of Einstein-Hilbert(EH) action for empty spacetime, where NLSUSY GR is obtained by the geomtrical arguments on new spacetime just inspired by NLSUSY. The new action of NLSUSY GR is unstable and breaks down spontaneously to EH action with Nambu-Goldstone(NG) fermion matter. We show that NLSUSY GR elucidates the physical meanings of the cosmologically important quantities, e.g., the spontaneous SUSY breaking scale, the cosmological constant, the dark energy and the neutrino mass and descri…
In this paper, we study a class of symmetry reduced models of $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity using self-dual variables. It is based on a particular Ansatz for the gravitino field as proposed by D'Eath et al. We show that the essential part of the constraint algebra in the classical theory closes. In particular, the (graded) Poisson bracket between the left and right supersymmetry constraint reproduces the Hamiltonian constraint. For the quantum theory, we apply techniques from the manifestly supersymmetric approach to loop quantum supergravity, which yields a graded analog of the holonomy-flux a…
A supersymmetric approach to string quantum cosmology based on the non-compact, global duality symmetries of the effective action is developed. An N=2 supersymmetric action is derived whose bosonic component is the Neveu-Schwarz/Neveu-Schwarz sector of the $(d+1)$--dimensional effective action compactified on a $d$--torus. A representation for the supercharges is found and the form of the zero-and one-fermion quantum states is determined. The purely bosonic component of the wavefunction is unique and manifestly invariant under the symmetry of the action. The formalism applies to a wide class o…
I discuss some (unconventional) aspects of String Cosmology of relevance to supersymmetric dark matter searches at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. In particular, I analyse the role of time-dependent dilaton fields in relaxing some of the stringent constraints that characterise minimal supersymmetric models in standard cosmology. I also study briefly CPT-violating aspects of brane Universe models with space-time brane defects at early epochs and their potential relevance to the observed Baryon Asymmetry.
The problem of boundary conditions in a supersymmetric theory of quantum cosmology is studied, with application to the one-loop prefactor in the quantum amplitude. Our background cosmological model is flat Euclidean space bounded by a three-sphere, and our calculations are based on the generalized Riemann zeta-function. One possible set of supersymmetric local boundary conditions involves field strengths for spins 1, 3/2 and 2, the undifferentiated spin-1/2 field, and a mixture of Dirichlet and Neumann conditions for spin 0. In this case the results we can obtain are: zeta(0)=7/45 for a comple…
We find solutions for quantum Class A Bianchi models of the form $\rm Ψ=W e^{\pm Φ}$ generalizing the results obtained by Moncrief and Ryan in standard quantum cosmology. For the II and IX Bianchi models there are other solutions $\rm \tildeΦ_2$, $\rm \tildeΦ_9$ to the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for which $\rm Ψ$ is necessarely zero, in contrast with solutions found in supersymmetric quantum cosmology.
We show that Supercritical-String-Cosmology (SSC) off-equilibrium and time-dependent-dilaton effects lead to a smoothly evolving dark energy for the last 10 billion years in concordance with all presently available astrophysical data. Such effects dilute by a factor O (10) the supersymmetric dark matter density (neutralinos), relaxing severe WMAP 1,3 constraints on the SUSY parameter space. Thus, LHC anticipated searches/discoveries may discriminate between conventional and Supercritical-String Cosmology.
We study the quantum dynamics of a supersymmetric squashed three-sphere by dimensionally reducing to one timelike dimension the action of D=4 simple supergravity for a Bianchi IX cosmological model. After imposition of the diffeomorphism constraints, the wave function of the Universe becomes a spinor of Spin(8,4) depending on the three squashing parameters, which satisfies Dirac, and Klein-Gordon-like, wave equations describing the propagation of a quantum spinning particle reflecting off spin-dependent potential walls. The algebra of the susy constraints and of the Hamiltonian one is found to…
It is shown that spatially flat, isotropic cosmologies derived from the Brans--Dicke gravity action exhibit a scale factor duality invariance. This classical duality is then associated with a hidden $N=2$ supersymmetry at the quantum level and the supersymmetric quantum constraints are solved exactly. These symmetries also apply to a dimensionally reduced version of vacuum Einstein gravity.
Supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model predict the existence of Q-balls, some of which can be entirely stable. Both stable and unstable Q-balls can play an important role in cosmology. In particular, Affleck-Dine baryogenesis can result in a copious production of stable baryonic Q-balls, which can presently exist as a form of dark matter. Formation and decay of unstable Q-balls can also have some important effects on baryogenesis and phase transitions.
The existence of non-singular string cosmologies is established in a class of two-dimensional supersymmetric Hybrid models at finite temperature. The left-moving sector of the Hybrid models gives rise to 16 real (N_4=4) spacetime supercharges as in the usual superstring models. The right-moving sector is non-supersymmetric at the massless level, but is characterized by MSDS symmetry, which ensures boson/fermion degeneracy of the right-moving massive levels. Finite temperature configurations, which are free of Hagedorn instabilities, are constructed in the presence of non-trivial "gravito-magne…
Within the context of SUSY GUTs, cosmic strings are generically formed at the end of hybrid inflation. However, the WMAP CMB measurements strongly constrain the possible cosmic strings contribution to the angular power spectrum of anisotropies. We investigate the parameter space of SUSY hybrid (F- and D- term) inflation, to get the conditions under which theoretical predictions are in agreement with data. The predictions of F-term inflation are in agreement with data, only if the superpotential coupling $κ$ is small. In particular, for SUSY SO(10), the upper bound is $κ\lsim 7\times 10^{-7}$. …
We investigate the cosmological dynamics of a class of supersymmetric chameleon models coupled to cold dark matter fermions. Supergravity corrections ensure that these models are efficiently screened in all astrophysical objects of interest, however this does not preclude the enhancement of gravity on linear cosmological scales. We analyse the background cosmology and solve the modified equations for the growth of cold dark matter density perturbations in closed form. Using this, we go on to derive the modified linear power spectrum which is characterised by two scales, the horizon size at mat…
Cosmic strings of the GUT scale, generically formed during the SSB of supersymmetric hybrid inflation, are compatible with the most recent CMB data. The strong constraints on the allowed cosmic strings contribution to the measured temperature anisotropies impose limits on the free parameters of the inflationary models, namely the mass scales and the couplings.
D=11 Supergravity near a space-like singularity admits a cosmological billiard description based on the hyperbolic Kac-Moody group E10. The quantization of this system via the supersymmetry constraint is shown to lead to wavefunctions involving automorphic (Maass wave) forms under the modular group W^+(E10)=PSL(2,O) with Dirichlet boundary conditions on the billiard domain. A general inequality for the Laplace eigenvalues of these automorphic forms implies that the wave function of the universe is generically complex and always tends to zero when approaching the initial singularity. We discuss…
The basic idea and some physical implications of nonlinear supersymmetric general relativity (NLSUSY GR) are discussed, which give new insights into the origin of mass and the mysterious relations between the cosmology and the low energy particle physics, e.g. the spontaneous SUSY breaking scale, the cosmological constant, the (dark) energy density of the universe and the neutrino mass.
We construct an extension of standard flat FLRW cosmology with matter, possessing local D = 1, N = 1 proper-time supersymmetry. The fundamental equation for the resulting mini-superspace models of quantum universes is a Dirac-like analogue of the Friedmann and Wheeler-DeWitt equations. We provide solutions of this equation for specific matter configurations based on the supersymmetric O(3) and O(2, 1) sigma-models. It turns out that in the compact model the volume rate of growth of the universe is quantized and non-vanishing due to the zero-point energy of the scalar fields. In the non-compact…
We study the time evolution of early universe which is developed by a cosmological constant $Λ_4$ and supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) fields in the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) space-time. The renormalized vacuum expectation value of energy-momentum tensor of the SYM theory is obtained in a holographic way. It includes a radiation of the SYM field, parametrized as $C$. The evolution is controlled by this radiation $C$ and the cosmological constant $Λ_4$. For positive $Λ_4$, an inflationary solution is obtained at late time. When $C$ is added, the quantum mechanical situation at early time …
Within the context of supersymmetric space-time (D-particle) foam in string/brane-theory, we discuss a Finsler-induced Cosmology and its implications for (thermal) Dark Matter abundances. This constitutes a truly microscopic model of dynamical space-time, where Finsler geometries arise naturally. The D-particle foam model involves point-like brane defects (D-particles), which provide the topologically non-trivial foamy structures of space-time. The D-particles can capture and emit stringy matter and this leads to a recoil of D-particles. It is indicated how one effect of such a recoil of D-par…
As is known, in modified cosmological theories of gravity many of the cosmologies which could not be generated by standard Einstein gravity, can be consistently described by $F(R)$ theories. Using known reconstruction techniques, we investigate which $F(R)$ theories can lead to a Hubble parameter describing two types of cosmological bounces, the superbounce model, related to supergravity and non-supersymmetric models of contracting ekpyrosis and also the Loop Quantum Cosmology modified ekpyrotic model. Since our method is an approximate method, we investigate the problem at large and small cur…
We review the new theory of modified supergravity, dubbed F(\cal R) supergravity, and some of its recent applications to inflation and reheating in the early universe cosmology. The F(\cal R) supergravity is the N=1 locally supersymmetric extension of the f(R) gravity in four space-time dimensions. A manifestly supersymmetric formulation of the F(\cal R) supergravity exist in terms of N=1 superfields, by using the (old) minimal Poincar'e supergravity in curved superspace. We find the conditions for stability, the absence of ghosts and tachyons. Three models of the F(\cal R) supergravity are st…
The multidimensional N=4 supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSY QM) is constructed using the superfield approach. As a result, the component form of the classical and quantum Lagrangian and Hamiltonian is obtained. In the considered SUSY QM both classical and quantum N=4 algebras include central charges, and this opens various possibilities for partial supersymmetry breaking. It is shown that quantum mechanical models with one quarter, one half and three quarters of unbroken(broken) supersymmetries can exist in the framework of the multidimensional N=4 SUSY QM, while the one-dimensional N=4 SU…
