The Big Bang and the Quantum
Abstract
This short review is addressed to cosmologists. General relativity predicts that space-time comes to an end and physics comes to a halt at the big-bang. Recent developments in loop quantum cosmology have shown that these predictions cannot be trusted. Quantum geometry effects can resolve singularities, thereby opening new vistas. Examples are: The big bang is replaced by a quantum bounce; the `horizon problem' disappears; immediately after the big bounce, there is a super-inflationary phase with its own phenomenological ramifications; and, in presence of a standard inflaton potential, initial conditions are naturally set for a long, slow roll inflation independently of what happens in the pre-big bang branch.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1005.5491,
title = {The Big Bang and the Quantum},
author = {Abhay Ashtekar},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1005.5491},
year = {2011}
}
Comments
18 pages, 6 figures. Plenary talk at the Invisible Universe conference held in Paris in July 2009. To appear in the Proceedings, edited by J. M. Alimi et al (AIP Publications)