Quantum cosmology in the energy representation

DOI10.1016/0550-3213(96)00444-0MaRDI QIDQ1923554zbMATHOpenAlexFDO

Authors Franz Embacher

Publication date 8 October 1996

Published in Nuclear Physics B (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9605021

zbMATH Keywords

Hilbert spacesWheeler-DeWitt equationsolution spaceFock representationHawking minisuperspace modellarge scale factor expansion

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45)

Abstract: The Hawking minisuperspace model (closed FRW geometry with a homogeneous massive scalar field) provides a fairly non-trivial testing ground for fundamental problems in quantum cosmology. We provide evidence that the Wheeler-DeWitt equation admits a basis of solutions that is distinguished by analyticity properities in a large scale factor expansion. As a consequence, the space of solutions decomposes in a preferred way into two Hilbert spaces with positive and negative definite scalar product, respectively. These results may be viewed as a hint for a deeper significance of analyticity. If a similar structure exists in full (non-minisuperspace) models as well, severe implications on the foundations of quantum cosmology are to be expected. Semiclassically, the elements of the preferred basis describe contracting and expanding universes with a prescribed value of the matter (scalar field) energy. Half of the basis elements have previously been constructed by Hawking and Page in a wormhole context, and they appear in a new light here. The technical tools to arrive at these conclusions are transformations of the wave function into several alternative representations that are based on the harmonic oscillator form of the matter energy operator, and that are called oscillator, energy and Fock representation. The framework defined by these may be of some help in analyzing the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for other purposes as well.

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Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3660360 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 486467 (Why is no real title available?)
• Inflation and quantum cosmology
• Quantum Theory of Gravity. I. The Canonical Theory
• Wave function of the universe

Cited in

(6)

• Energy conditions and qualitative cosmology
• Wheeler-DeWitt equation and Feynman diagrams
• Two-component formulation of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation
• Cosmology from quantum potential
• Hierarchy and wave functions in a simple quantum cosmology
• Particle creation and non-adiabatic transitions in quantum cosmology.

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