Related papers: Quantum cosmology of a classically constrained non…
Minisuperspace models derived from Kaluza-Klein theories and low energy string theory are studied. They are equivalent to one and two minimally coupled scalar fields. The general classical and quantum solutions are obtained. Gaussian…
We develop a scenario for the emergence of a non-singular generic cosmological solution based on the a WKB characterization of one of the two anisotropy degrees of freedom. We investigate the dynamics of the so-called inhomogeneous…
The description of the universe evolving in time according to general relativity is given in comparison with the quantum description of the same universe in terms of semiclassical wave functions. The spacetime geometry is determined by the…
It has earlier been argued that there should exist a formulation of quantum mechanics which does not refer to a background spacetime. In this paper we propose that, for a relativistic particle, such a formulation is provided by a…
The quantum description of time evolution in non-linear gravitational systems such as cosmological space-times is not well understood. We show, in the simplified setting of mini-superspace, that time evolution of this system can be obtained…
Much of the foundational work on quantum cosmology employs a simple minisuperspace model describing a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe containing a massive scalar field. We show that the classical limit of this model exhibits…
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…
We review the canonical quantisation of the geometry of the spacetime in the cases of a simply and a non-simply connected manifold. In the former, we analyse the information contained in the solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and…
We consider a quantum cosmology with a massless background scalar field $\pb$ and adopt a wave packet as the wave function. This wave packet is a superposition of the WKB form wave functions, each of which has a definite momentum of the…
Loop quantum cosmology is an application of recent developments for a non-perturbative and background independent quantization of gravity to a cosmological setting. Characteristic properties of the quantization such as discreteness of…
In a metric variable based Hamiltonian quantization, we give a prescription for constructing semiclassical matter-geometry states for homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models. These "collective" states arise as infinite linear…
In a quantum cosmological model consisting of a Euclidean region and a Lorentzian region, Hartle-Hawking's no-bounary wave function, and Linde's wave function and Vilenkin's tunneling wave function are briefly described and compared with…
Quantum mechanics in its presently known formulation requires an external classical time for its description. A classical spacetime manifold and a classical spacetime metric are produced by classical matter fields. In the absence of such…
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…
This paper gives an elementary introduction to some of the conceptual problems of quantum cosmology. Contents: 1. Why quantum cosmology? 2. Time in quantum gravity 3.Decoherence and the recovery of the Schrodinger equation 4. The direction…
An analytical approach for studying the cosmological scenario with a homogeneous tachyon field within the framework of loop quantum gravity is developed. Our study is based on the semi-classical regime where space time can be approximated…
One classical theory, as determined by an equation of motion or set of classical trajectories, can correspond to many unitarily {\em in}equivalent quantum theories upon canonical quantization. This arises from a remarkable ambiguity, not…
We describe the modern approach to quantum cosmology, as initiated by Hartle and Hawking, Linde, Vilenkin and others. The primary aim is to explain how one determines the consequences for the late universe of a given quantum theory of…
We contrast the initial condition requirements of various contemporary cosmological models, including inflationary and bouncing cosmologies. Various proposals such as Hartle-Hawking's no boundary, or Tunnelling boundary conditions are…
Invited contribution to the Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (2nd edition), providing an overview over some main ideas and results in quantum cosmology. Key points: Canonical quantisation of homogeneous, isotropic cosmology; discussion…