English

Quantum string cosmology

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2021-01-15 v2 Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

We present a short review of possible applications of the Wheeler-De Witt equation to cosmological models based on the low-energy string effective action, and characterised by an initial regime of asymptotically flat, low energy, weak coupling evolution. Considering in particular a class of duality-related (but classically disconnected) background solutions, we shall discuss the possibility of quantum transitions between the phases of pre-big bang and post-big bang evolution. We will show that it is possible, in such a context, to represent the birth of our Universe as a quantum process of tunneling or "anti-tunneling" from an initial state asymptotically approaching the string perturbative vacuum.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2101.01070,
  title  = {Quantum string cosmology},
  author = {M. Gasperini},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2101.01070},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

16 pages, 3 figures. Final version published in Universe 7, 14 (2021) for the Special Issue on "Quantum Cosmology", ed. by Paulo Vargas Moniz. See also https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/7/1/14