English

Quantum Probabilities for Inflation from Holography

High Energy Physics - Theory 2015-06-05 v3 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

The evolution of the universe is determined by its quantum state. The wave function of the universe obeys the constraints of general relativity and in particular the Wheeler-DeWitt equation (WDWE). For non-zero \Lambda, we show that solutions of the WDWE at large volume have two domains in which geometries and fields are asymptotically real. In one the histories are Euclidean asymptotically anti-de Sitter, in the other they are Lorentzian asymptotically classical de Sitter. Further, the universal complex semiclassical asymptotic structure of solutions of the WDWE implies that the leading order in \hbar quantum probabilities for classical, asymptotically de Sitter histories can be obtained from the action of asymptotically anti-de Sitter configurations. This leads to a promising, universal connection between quantum cosmology and holography.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1207.6653,
  title  = {Quantum Probabilities for Inflation from Holography},
  author = {James B. Hartle and S. W. Hawking and Thomas Hertog},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1207.6653},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

11 pages, 1 fig; v2:changes to emphasize connection with holography

R2 v1 2026-06-21T21:42:49.727Z