Quantum effects play an essential role in modern cosmology. Perhaps the most striking example comes from large-scale structures, generally assumed to originate from vacuum quantum fluctuations and stretched by an expansion phase. Inflation is the leading paradigm in explaining this process. The various observational successes of inflationary models drive the scientific community into elaborating more and more stringent tests, which can simultaneously be used to probe beyond the simple slow-roll, single field inflation. However, inflation is not a theory, and going beyond inflation is a necessity. Various alternatives and/or complementary mechanisms to inflation have been invoked in the literature. The best-known cosmological models endowed with the capacity of explaining large-scale observations while avoiding the singularity form a class called non-singular bouncing models. The main features of these models are the presence of a contraction phase before expansion, and a never-vanishing scale factor. A non-singular bounce generally appears when quantum effects are part of the model, playing the role of a regulator leading to the avoidance of singularities. This thesis focuses on a Hamiltonian formulation of quantum effects in cosmology. We first explore stochastic perturbations in a collapsing universe. Then, we show that quantum cosmology with Bohmian mechanics resolves the initial singularity. Adding a non-minimal coupling of gravity with electromagnetism, we show that the generation of magnetic fields is possible. Finally, we apply the affine quantisation on the Brans-Dicke Theory, the prototype of modified gravity theories, and we discuss the quantum equivalence of the Jordan and Einstein frames within this framework. We show that in both frames a smooth bounce is expected, and that equivalence between frames holds at the quantum level.
This is an introduction to loop quantum cosmology (LQC) reviewing mini- and midisuperspace models as well as homogeneous and inhomogeneous effective dynamics.
We review some recent progress in the extraction of inflationary observables in loop quantum cosmology. Inverse-volume quantum corrections induce a growth of power in the large-scale cosmological spectra and are constrained by observations.
Loop quantum cosmology is a conflicted field in which exuberant claims of observability coexist with serious objections against the conceptual and physical viability of its current formulations. This contribution presents a non-technical case study of the recent claim that loop quantum cosmology might alleviate anomalies in observations of the cosmic microwave background.
Loop Quantum Cosmology is an appealing quantum completion of classical cosmology, which brings along various theoretical features which in many cases offer remedy or modify various classical cosmology aspects. In this paper we address the gravitational baryogenesis mechanism in the context of Loop Quantum Cosmology. As we demonstrate, when Loop Quantum Cosmology effects are taken into account in the resulting Friedmann equations for a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe, then even for a radiation dominated Universe, the predicted baryon-to-entropy ratio from the gravitational baryogenesis…
The era of precision cosmology has allowed us to accurately determine many important cosmological parameters, in particular via the CMB. Confronting Loop Quantum Cosmology with these observations provides us with a powerful test of the theory. For this to be possible we need a detailed understanding of the generation and evolution of inhomogeneous perturbations during the early, Quantum Gravity, phase of the universe. Here we describe how Loop Quantum Cosmology provides a completion of the inflationary paradigm, that is consistent with the observed power spectra of the CMB.
We give a formulation of quantum cosmology with a pressureless dust and arbitrary additional matter fields. The dust provides a natural time gauge corresponding to a cosmic time, yielding a physical time independent Hamiltonian. The approach simplifies the analysis of both Wheeler-deWitt and loop quantum cosmology models, broadening the applicability of the latter.
Quantum cosmology has traditionally been studied at the level of symmetry-reduced minisuperspace models, analyzing the behavior of wave functions. However, in the absence of a complete full setting of quantum gravity and detailed knowledge of specific properties of quantum states, it remained difficult to make testable predictions. For quantum cosmology to be part of empirical science, it must allow for a systematic framework in which corrections to well-tested classical equations can be derived, with any ambiguities and ignorance sufficiently parameterized. As in particle and condensed-matter…
Loop quantum gravity is a mature theory. To proceed to explicit calculations in cosmology, it is necessary to make assumptions and simplifications based on the symmetries of the cosmological setting. Symmetry reduction is especially critical when dealing with cosmological perturbations. The present article reviews several approaches to the problem of building a consistent formalism that describes the dynamics of perturbations on a quantum spacetime and tries to address their respective strengths and weaknesses. We also review the main open issues in loop quantum cosmology.
We analyze the cosmological solutions to the recently proposed nonlocal quantum effective action for gravity with a cosmological term. We show that the vacuum energy decays with a slow-roll parameter proportional to the anomalous gravitational dressings.
It is often argued that inflation erases all the information about what took place before it started. Quantum gravity, relevant in the Planck era, seems therefore mostly impossible to probe with cosmological observations. In general, only very ad hoc scenarios or hyper fine-tuned initial conditions can lead to observationally testable theories. Here we consider a well-defined and well motivated candidate quantum cosmology model that predicts inflation. Using the most recent observational constraints on the cosmic microwave background B modes, we show that the model is excluded for all its para…
In this paper, we study the dynamics of k-essence in loop quantum cosmology (LQC). The study indicates that the loop quantum gravity (LQG) effect plays a key role only in the early epoch of the universe and is diluted at the later stage. The fixed points in LQC are basically consistent with that in standard Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology. For most of the attractor solutions, the stability conditions in LQC are in agreement with that for the standard FRW universe. But for some special fixed point, more tighter constraints are imposed thanks to the LQG effect.
We give a formulation of quantum cosmology with a pressureless dust and arbitrary additional matter fields. The system has the property that its Hamiltonian constraint is linear in the dust momentum. This feature provides a natural time gauge, leading to a physical hamiltonian that is not a square root. Quantization leads to Schr{ö}dinger equation for which unitary evolution is directly linked to geodesic completeness. Our approach simplifies the analysis of both Wheeler-deWitt and loop quantum cosmology (LQC) models, and significantly broadens the applicability of the latter. This is demonstr…
After introducing the basic ingredients of Loop Quantum Cosmology, I will briefly discuss some of its phenomenological aspects. Those can give some useful insight about the full Loop Quantum Gravity theory and provide an answer to some long-standing questions in early universe cosmology.
The scope of the paper has been broadened to include a more complete discussion of the following topics: The derivation of composition laws in quantum cosmology. The connection between the existence of a composition law in the sum over histories approach to relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum cosmology, and the existence of a canonical formulation.
There are several regimes in chaotic inflationary cosmology where some part of the system is classical and some other quantum. I describe how to deal with such systems and how to disentangle their dynamics into classical behaviour and quantum corrections. I also discuss the conditions for quantum corrections to be small.
We demonstrate that it is possible to produce different isotropic embeddings of anisotropic Loop Quantum Cosmology, resulting to "lattice refinement" in the isotropic system. To introduce the general approach, we first use a simple model with only two anisotropic directions. We then employ the specific case of a Bianchi I model, to show how the method extends to three-dimensional systems. To concisely calculate the step-size of the resulting isotropic state, we define the "symmetric dual" of states and operators, for the two- and three-dimensional systems, respectively.
The spatially flat and isotropic cosmological model of Brans-Dicke theory with coupling parameter $ω\neq-3/2$ is quantized by the approach of loop quantum cosmology. An interesting feature of this model is that, although the Brans-Dicke scalar field is non-minimally coupled with curvature, it can still play the role of an emergent time variable. In the quantum theory, the classical differential equation which represents cosmological evolution is replaced by a quantum difference equation. The effective Hamiltonian and modified dynamical equations of loop quantum Brans-Dicke cosmology are also o…
In this work we investigate which Loop Quantum Cosmology corrected Gauss-Bonnet $F(\mathcal{G})$ gravity can realize two singular cosmological scenarios, the intermediate inflation and the singular bounce scenarios. The intermediate inflation scenario has a Type III sudden singularity at $t=0$, while the singular bounce has a soft Type IV singularity. By using perturbative techniques, we find the holonomy corrected $F(\mathcal{G})$ gravities that generate at leading order the aforementioned cosmologies and we also argue that the effect of the holonomy corrections is minor to the power spectrum…
We summarize the main results of 19 talks presented at the QG3 session (loop quantum gravity: cosmology and black holes) of the 16th Marcel Grossmann Meeting held online from July $5^{\mathrm{th}}$-10$^{\mathrm{th}}$, 2021.
Loop quantum cosmology is shown to provide both the dynamical law and initial conditions for the wave function of a universe by one discrete evolution equation. Accompanied by the condition that semiclassical behavior is obtained at large volume, a unique wave function is predicted.
A warm inflationary universe model in loop quantum cosmology is studied. In general we discuss the condition of inflation in this framework. By using a chaotic potential, $V(ϕ)\propto ϕ^2$, we develop a model where the dissipation coefficient $Γ=Γ_0=$ constant. We use recent astronomical observations for constraining the parameters appearing in our model.
Lectures by the author at the 1986 Cargese summer school modestly corrected and uploaded for greater accessibility. Some of the author's views on the quantum mechanics of cosmology have changed from those presented here but may still be of historical interest. The material on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation for solving the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and the work on the classical geometry limit and the approximation of quantum field theory in curved spacetime are still of interest and of use.
The Wheeler-De Witt equation of type IIB quantum string cosmology compactified with constant internal H-fluxes on a 6-torus, whose volume modulus is frozen, is solved under the WKB approximation. The spontaneous symmetry breaking of the S-duality group by H-fluxes is also examined.
We study the third quantized formulation of the massive inflaton quantum cosmology for the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. The Hamiltonian is equivalent to an infinite number of coupled oscillators whose couplings and frequencies are intrinsic time-dependent. We propose the invariant operators whose eigenstates provide the exact wave functions of the universe.
We review some aspects of quantum gravity in the context of cosmology. In particular, we focus on models with a phenomenology accessible to current and near-future observations, as the early Universe might be our only chance to peep through the quantum gravity realm.
Inflation predicts that quantum fluctuations determine the large scale structure of the Universe. This raises the striking possibility that quantum mechanics, developed to describe nature at short distances, can be tested by studying nature at its most immense -- cosmology. We illustrate the potential of such a test by adapting the simplest form of the inflationary paradigm. A nonlinear generalization of quantum mechanics modifies predictions for the cosmological power spectrum. If we assume that the nonlinear parameter $b$ is a comoving quantity observational cosmology, within the context of …
We extend the treatment of quantum cosmology to a manifold with torsion. We adopt a model of Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble compatible with the cosmological principle. The universe wavefunction will be subject to a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Hamiltonian. With a vanishing energy-momentum tensor, the universe evolution in the semiclassical and classical regimes is shown to reflect a two-stage inflationary process induced by torsion.
Notes from the lectures by the author at the 7th Jerusalem Winter School 1990 on Quantum Cosmology and Baby Universes. The lectures covered quantum mechanics for closed systems like the universe, generalized quantum mechanics, time in quantum mechanics, the quantum mechanics spacetime, and practical quantum cosmology. References have not been updated.
In this topical review we discuss the connections between chaos, decoherence and quantum cosmology. We understand chaos as classical chaos in systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom, decoherence as environment induced decoherence and quantum cosmology as the theory of the Wheeler - DeWitt equation or else the consistent history formulation thereof, first in mini super spaces and later through its extension to midi super spaces. The overall conclusion is that consideration of decoherence is necessary (and probably sufficient) to sustain an interpretation of quantum cosmology based on…
A discussion of inhomogeneity is indispensable to understand quantum cosmology, even if one uses the dynamics of homogeneous geometries as a first approximation. While a full quantization of inhomogeneous gravity is not available, a broad framework of effective field theory provides important ingredients for quantum cosmology. Such a setting also allows one to take into account lessons from the Belinski-Khalatnikov-Lifshitz (BKL) scenario. Based on several new ingredients, this article presents conditions on various parameters and mathematical constructions that appear in minisuperspace models…
The recently proposed Horava-Lifshitz (HL) theory of gravity is analyzed from the quantum cosmology point of view. By employing usual quantum cosmology techniques, we study the quantum Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe filled with radiation in the context of HL gravity. We find that this universe is quantum mechanically nonsingular in two different ways: the expectation value of the scale factor $<a>(t)$ never vanishes and, if we abandon the detailed balance condition suggested by Horava, the quantum dynamics of the universe is uniquely determined by the initial wave packet a…
We study the quantum cosmology of an empty (4+1)-dimensional Kaluza-Klein cosmology with a negative cosmological constant and a FRW type metric with two scale factors, one for 4-D universe and the other for one compact extra dimension. By assuming the noncommutativity in the corresponding mini-superspace we suggest a solution for the Hierarchy problem, at the level of Wheeler-DeWitt equation.
Concepts of quantum open systems and ideas of correlation dynamics in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, as well as methods of closed-time-path effective action and influence functional in quantum field theory can be usefully applied for the analysis of quantum statistical processes in gravitation and cosmology. We raise a few conceptual questions and suggest some new directions of research on selected currrent topics on the physics of the early universe, such as entropy generation in cosmological particle creation, quantum theory of galaxy formation, and phase transition in inflationary co…
An error in the gauge fixed quantization of section 3 is corrected. The result is a much simpler treatment of the clock field, leading to a simplification of the gauge fixed quantum theory and the treatment of the semiclassical limit.
In this paper, we discuss the properties of one-parameter sequences that arise when solving the Hamiltonian constraint in Bianchi I loop quantum cosmology using a separation of variables method. In particular, we focus on finding an expression for the sequence for all real values of the parameter, and discuss the pre-classicality of this function. We find that the behavior of these preclassical sequences imply time asymmetry on either side of the classical singularity in Bianchi I cosmology.
Loop quantum cosmology of the closed isotropic model is studied with a special emphasis on a comparison with traditional results obtained in the Wheeler-DeWitt approach. This includes the relation of the dynamical initial conditions with boundary conditions such as the no-boundary or the tunneling proposal and a discussion of inflation from quantum cosmology.
We present a method, which we shall call the probabilistic evolutionary process, based on the probabilistic nature of quantum theory to offer a possible solution to the problem of time in quantum cosmology. It offers an alternative for perceiving an arrow of time which is compatible with the thermodynamical arrow of time and makes a new interpretation of the FRW universe in vacua which is consistent with creation of a de Sitter space-time from nothing. This is a completely quantum result with no correspondence in classical cosmology.
Cosmology with non-perturbative quantum corrections resulting from torsion is considered. It is shown that the evolution of closed, open and flat Universes is changed because of the presence of a non-zero dispersion of quantum torsion. The evolution of a Universe with quantum torsion and with one type of average curvature can be similar to the evolution of a Universe without quantum torsion and with another type of average curvature. For the description of the non-perturbative quantum torsion, a vector field approximation is applied.
We construct a noncommutative extension of the Loop Quantum Cosmology effective scheme for the open FLRW model with a free scalar field via a theta deformation. Firstly, a deformation is implemented in the configuration sector, among the holonomy variable and the matter degree of freedom. We show that this type of noncommutativity retain, to some degree, key features of the Loop Quantum Cosmology paradigm for a free field. Secondly, a deformation is implemented in the momentum sector, among the momentum associated to the holonomy variable and the momentum associated to the matter field. We sho…
Quantum fluctuations or other moments of a state contribute to energy expectation values and can imply interesting physical effects. In quantum cosmology, they turn out to be important for a discussion of density bounds and instabilities of initial-value problems in the presence of signature change in loop-quantized models. This article provides an effective description of these issues, accompanied by a comparison with existing numerical results and an extension to squeezed states. The comparison confirms that canonical effective methods are well-suited for computations of properties of physic…
Using general features of recent quantizations of the Hamiltonian constraint in loop quantum gravity and loop quantum cosmology, a dynamical interpretation of the constraint equation as evolution equation is presented. This involves a transformation from the connection to a dreibein representation and the selection of an internal time variable. Due to the discrete nature of geometrical quantities in loop quantum gravity also time turns out to be discrete leading to a difference rather than differential evolution equation. Furthermore, evolving observables are discussed in this framework which …
We propose a model for noncommutative quantum cosmology by means of a deformation of minisuperspace. For the Kantowski-Sachs metric we are able to find the exact wave function. We construct wave packets and show that new quantum states that ``compete'' to be the most probable state appear, in clear contrast with the commutative case. A tunneling process could be possible among these states.
We present a construction of the Hubble operator for the spatially flat isotropic loop quantum cosmology. This operator is a Dirac observable on a subspace of the space of physical solutions. This subspace gets selected dynamically, requiring that its action be invariant on the physical solution space. As a simple illustrative application of the expectation value of the operator, we do find a generic phase of (super)inflation, a feature shown by Bojowald from the analysis of effective Friedmann equation of loop quantum cosmology.
Proposing smooth initial conditions is one of the most important tasks in quantum cosmology. On the other hand, the low-energy effective action, appearing in the semiclassical path integral, can get nontrivial quantum corrections near classical singularities due to specific quantum gravity proposals. In this article, we combine the well-known no-boundary proposal for the wavefunction of the universe with quantum modifications coming from loop quantum cosmology (LQC). Remarkably, we find that the restriction of a `slow-roll' type potential in the original Hartle-Hawking proposal is considerably…
Isotropic models in loop quantum cosmology allow explicit calculations, thanks largely to a completely known volume spectrum, which is exploited in order to write down the evolution equation in a discrete internal time. Because of genuinely quantum geometrical effects the classical singularity is absent in those models in the sense that the evolution does not break down there, contrary to the classical situation where space-time is inextendible. This effect is generic and does not depend on matter violating energy conditions, but it does depend on the factor ordering of the Hamiltonian constra…
We apply quantum gravitational results to spatially unbounded Friedmann universes and try to answer some questions related to dark energy, dark matter, inflation and the missing antimatter.
The purpose of the paper, of which this is part II, is to review, clarify, and critically analyse modern mathematical cosmology. The emphasis is upon mathematical objects and structures, rather than numerical computations. Part II provides a critical analysis of inflationary cosmology and quantum cosmology, with particular attention to the claims made that these theories can explain the creation of the universe.
This contribution consists of two parts. In the first part, I review the tunneling approach to quantum cosmology and comment on the alternative approaches. In the second part, I discuss the relation between quantum cosmology and eternal inflation. In particular, I discuss whether or not we need quantum cosmology in the light of eternal inflation, and whether or not quantum cosmology makes any testable predictions.
How the time evolution which is typical for classical cosmology emerges from quantum cosmology? The answer is not trivial because the Wheeler-DeWitt equation is time independent. A framework associating the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi to the minisuperspace cosmological models has been introduced in [1]. In this paper, we show that time dependence and quantum-classical correspondence both arise naturally in the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi formalism of quantum mechanics applied to quantum cosmology. We study the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi cosmology of spatially flat homogeneous and isotropic early universe…
We start by presenting a brief summary of fractional quantum mechanics, as means to convey a motivation towards fractional quantum cosmology. Subsequently, such application is made concrete with the assistance of a case study. Specifically, we investigate and then discuss a model of stiff matter in a spatially flat homogeneous and isotropic universe. A new quantum cosmological solution, where fractional calculus implications are explicit, is presented and then contrasted with the corresponding standard quantum cosmology setting.
I review some aspects of non-critical strings in connection with Lorentz-Invariance violating approaches to quantum gravity. I also argue how non-critical strings may provide a unifying framework where string Cosmology and quantum gravity may be tackled together.
I review the tunneling, Hartle-Hawking and Linde proposals for the wave function of the universe and comment on the recent work on quantum creation of open universes.
Quantum cosmology is usually studied quantizing symmetry-reduced variables. Is it possible, instead, to define quantum cosmology starting from the full quantum gravity theory? In Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG), it is possible to cut the degrees of freedom in a suitable way, in order to define a cosmological model. Such a model provides a tool for describing general fluctuations of the quantum geometry at the bounce that replaces the initial singularity. I focus on its simplest version, a "dipole" formed by two tetrahedra. This has been shown to describe a universe with anisotropic and inhomogenous…
The prediction of a phase of inflation whose number of e-folds is constrained is an important feature of loop quantum cosmology. This work aims at giving some elementary clarifications on the role of the different hypotheses leading to this conclusion. We show that the duration of inflation does not depend significantly on the modified background dynamics in the quantum regime.
We formulate the Lagrangian of the Newtonian cosmology where the cosmological constant is also introduced. Following the affine quantization procedure, the Hamiltonian operator is derived. The wave functions of the Newtonian universe and the corresponding eigenvalues for the case of matter dominated by a negative cosmological constant are given.
It is well known that, for pressureless matter, Newtonian and relativistic cosmologies are equivalent. We show that this equivalence breaks down in the quantum level. In addition, we find some cases for which quantum Newtonian cosmology can be related to quantum cosmology in (2+1) dimensions. Two exact solutions for the wave function of the Newtonian universe are also obtained.
