We prove that, at the mini superspace level, and for an arbitrary Brans-Dicke parameter, one cannot tell traditional Einstein-Hilbert gravity from local scale invariant Weyl-Dirac gravity. Both quantum mechanical cosmologies are governed by the one and the same time-independent single-variable Hartle-Hawking wave function. It is only that its original argument, the cosmic scale factor $a$, is replaced by $aϕ$ ($ϕ$ being the dilaton field) to form a Dirac in-scalar. The Weyl vector enters quantum cosmology only in the presence of an extra dimension, where its fifth component, serving as a 4-dim Kaluza-Klein in-scalar, governs the near Big Bang behavior of the wave function. The case of a constant Kaluza-Klein in-radius is discussed in some detail.
It has been shown that inclusion of higher order curvature invariant terms in the Robertson-Walker minisuperspace model of the Einstein-Hilbert action leads to Schrodinger like equation, whose corresponding effective action is hermitian. Thus, it is possible to write the continuity equation in a straight forward manner, which reveals a quantum mechanical probability interpretation of the theory.
We propose an improved variant of the third-quantization scheme, for the spatially homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models in Einstein gravity coupled with a neutral massless scalar field. Our strategy is to specify a semi-Riemannian structure on the mini-superspace and to consider the quantum Klein-Gordon field on the mini-superspace. Then, the Hilbert space of this quantum system becomes inseparable, which causes the creation of infinite number of universes. To overcome this issue, we introduce a vector bundle structure on the Hilbert space and the connection of the vector bundle. Then…
Using the improved quantization technique to the mini-superspace approximation of loop quantum gravity, we study the evolution of black holes supported by a cosmological constant. The addition of a cosmological constant allows for classical solutions with planar, cylindrical, toroidal and higher genus black holes. Here we study the quantum analog of these space-times. In all scenarios studied, the singularity present in the classical counter-part is avoided in the quantized version and is replaced by a bounce, and in the late evolution, a series of less severe bounces. Interestingly, although …
A companion paper provides a proposal for cosmic singularity resolution based upon general features of a bouncing unitary cosmological model in the mini-superspace approximation. This paper analyses novel phenomenology that can be identified within particular solutions of that model. First, we justify our choice of particular solutions based upon a clearly articulated and observationally-motivated principle. Second, we demonstrate that the chosen solutions follow a classical mini-superspace cosmology before smoothly bouncing off the classically singular region. Third, and most significantly, w…
One solution to the so-called problem of time is to construct certain Dirac observables, sometimes called evolving constants of motion. There has been some discussion in the literature about the interpretation of such observables, and in particular whether single Dirac observables can be measured. Here we clarify the situation by describing a class of interactions that can be said to implement measurements of such observables. Along the way, we describe a useful notion of perturbation theory for the rigging map eta of group averaging (sometimes loosely called the physical state "projector"), w…
Canonical quantization of spherically symmetric initial data which is appropriate to classical interior black hole solutions in four dimensions is carried out and solved exactly without gauge fixing the remaining kinematic Gauss Law constraint. The resultant mini-superspace manifold and arena for quantum geometrodynamics is two-dimensional, of signature (+, -), non-singular, and can in fact be identified precisely with the first Rindler wedge. The associated Wheeler-DeWitt equation with evolution in intrinsic superspace time can be formulated as a free massive Klein-Gordon equation; and the Ha…
We offer a new proposal for cosmic singularity resolution based upon a quantum cosmology with a unitary bounce. This proposal is illustrated via a novel quantization of a mini-superspace model in which there can be superpositions of the cosmological constant. This possibility leads to a finite, bouncing unitary cosmology. Whereas the usual Wheeler--DeWitt cosmology generically displays pathological behaviour in terms of non-finite expectation values and non-unitary dynamics, the finiteness and unitarity of our model are formally guaranteed. For classically singular models with a massless scala…
Wheeler-DeWitt equation is applied to $k > 0$ Friedmann Robertson Walker metric with various types of matter. It is shown that if the Universe ends in the matter dominated era (e.g., radiation or pressureless gas) with zero cosmological constant, then the resulting Wheeler-DeWitt equation describes a bound state problem. As solutions of a non-degenerate bound state system, the eigen-wave functions are real (Hartle-Hawking) and the usual issue associated with the ambiguity in the boundary conditions for the wave functions is resolved. Furthermore, as a bound state problem, there exists a quanti…
The phenomenon of linearisation instability is identified in models of quantum cosmology that are perturbations of mini-superspace models. In particular, constraints that are second order in the perturbations must be imposed on wave functions calculated in such models. It is shown explicitly that in the case of a model which is a perturbation of the mini-superspace which has $S^3$ spatial sections these constraints imply that any wave functions calculated in this model must be SO(4) invariant. (This replaces the previous corrupted version.)
The mini-superspace quantization of D=11 supergravity is equivalent to the quantization of a E10/K(E10) coset space sigma model, when the latter is restricted to the E10 Cartan subalgebra. As a consequence, the wavefunctions solving the relevant mini-superspace Wheeler-DeWitt equation involve automorphic (Maass wave) forms under the modular group W^+(E10)=PSL(2,O). Using Dirichlet boundary conditions on the billiard domain a general inequality for the Laplace eigenvalues of these automorphic forms is derived, entailing a wave function of the universe that is generically complex and always tend…
The Hartle-Hawking wave function is known to be the Fourier dual of the Chern-Simons or Kodama state reduced to mini-superspace, using an integration contour covering the whole real line. But since the Chern-Simons state is a general solution of the Hamiltonian constraint (with a given ordering), its Fourier dual should provide the general solution (i.e. beyond mini-superspace) of the Wheeler DeWitt equation representing the Hamiltonian constraint in the metric representation. We write down a formal expression for such a wave function, to be seen as the generalization beyond mini-superspace of…
A scalar--tensor theory of gravity, containing an arbitrary coupling function $F(ϕ)$ and a general potential $V(ϕ)$, is considered in the context of a spatially flat FLRW model. The use of reparametrization invariance enables a particular lapse parametrization in which the mini--superspace metric completely specifies the dynamics of the system. A requirement of existence of the maximal possible number of autonomous integrals of motion is imposed. This leads to a flat mini--superspace metric realized by a particular relation between the coupling function and the potential. The space of solution…
Mini superspace cosmology treats the scale factor $a(t)$, the lapse function $n(t)$, and an optional dilation field $ϕ(t)$ as canonical variables. While pre-fixing $n(t)$ means losing the Hamiltonian constraint, pre-fixing $a(t)$ is serendipitously harmless at this level. This suggests an alternative to the Hartle-Hawking approach, where the pre-fixed $a(t)$ and its derivatives are treated as explicit functions of time, leaving $n(t)$ and a now mandatory $ϕ(t)$ to serve as canonical variables. The naive gauge pre-fix $a(t)=const$ is clearly forbidden, causing evolution to freeze altogether, so…
We revisit spatially flat, anisotropic cosmologies within the framework of mini-superspace. Putting special emphasis on the symmetries of the mini-superspace action and on the associated conservation laws, we unveil a new class of rotating cosmologies driven by solid matter. Their rotating is physical, in that it is characterized in an invariant way in terms of a conserved angular momentum. Along the way, we confirm the results of Bartolo et al. regarding the slow decay of anisotropies for solid inflation. We then use our minisuperspace approach as a laboratory to address certain puzzles of qu…
In the context of metric f(R) gravity, we consider a FLRW space-time, filled with a perfect fluid described by a barotropic equation of state (p = γρ). We give the equivalent mini-superspace description and use the reparametrization invariance of the resulting Lagrangian to work in the equivalent constant potential description. At that point, we restrict our analysis to those models for which the ensuing scaled mini-superspace is maximally symmetric. Those models exhibit the maximum number of autonomous integrals of motion linear in the momenta, which are constructed by the Killing vectors of …
The tunneling wave function of the universe is investigated in a minisuperspace framework of a de Sitter universe with a quantum scalar field, treated as a perturbation. We consider three different approaches to defining the tunneling wave function: (1) tunneling boundary conditions in superspace, (2) Lorentzian path integral, and (3) quantum tunneling from initial universe of a vanishing size. We show that the superspace approach requires Robin boundary conditions for the scalar field modes, the path integral approach requires adding an appropriate boundary term to the scalar field action, an…
We argue that the topological string partition function, which has been known to correspond to a wave-function, can be interpreted as an exact ``wave-function of the universe'' in the mini-superspace sector of physical superstring theory. This realizes the idea of Hartle and Hawking in the context of string theory, including all loop quantum corrections. The mini-superspace approximation is justified as an exact description of BPS quantities. Moreover this proposal leads to a conceptual explanation of the recent observation that the black hole entropy is the square of the topological string wa…
Wormholes are considered both from the Wheeler deWitt equation, as well as from the field equations in the Euclidean background of Roberson Walker mini-superspace in $R^2$ gravity. Quantum wormhole satisfies Hawking Page wormhole boundary condition in the Euclidean background of mini-superspace, however, in the Lorentzian background wave functional turns to the usual oscillatory function. The Euclidean field equations for $κ=0, \pm1$ lead to the wormhole configuration; as well as oscillating universe in Euclidean time $τ$. The oscillating universe is equivalent to expanding universe under anal…
