The background field approximation in (quantum) cosmology (Q4954059)

Cosmology is a rich and mature subject. Quantum cosmology is of relatively recent origin, though it is growing fast currently into a major field. The paper under review analyses the Hamilton-Jacobi (HJ) action of gravity and matter in the limit where gravity is treated at the background field approximation (BFA). The question concerning certain processes in which both the quantum effects as well as gravity play a crucial role is of great importance. The choice of the appropriate background and the determination of the corrections to the fundamental equations are treated at length here. The classical problem in the HJ-formalism is studied since it leads to equations that are quite similar to those obtained in quantum cosmology. In section 2, a minisuperspace model with a matter Hamiltonian characterized by a constant of motion is analysed. In the next section certain extended models with backgrounds typically marked by many degrees of freedom, are studied. Using a perturbative technique based on an action it is shown how an ensemble of HJ equations for matter is obtained out of the constraints. In the final section the results are generalized to arbitrary 3-geometries. Throughout the treatment applications to quantum cosmology are kept in view. In the appendix A certain results on the BFA based on trajectories are rederived by using conventional methods. The appendix B discusses the gravitational response to off-shell matter configurations.