Consistent probabilities in loop quantum cosmology

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/30/20/205008zbMATH Open1276.83055arXiv1306.6142OpenAlexW3098993506WikidataQ62273558 ScholiaQ62273558MaRDI QIDQ2864576FDOQ2864576

Authors: David A. Craig, Parampreet Singh 

Publication date: 25 November 2013

Published in: Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: A fundamental issue for any quantum cosmological theory is to specify how probabilities can be assigned to various quantum events or sequences of events such as the occurrence of singularities or bounces. In previous work, we have demonstrated how this issue can be successfully addressed within the consistent histories approach to quantum theory for Wheeler-DeWitt-quantized cosmological models. In this work, we generalize that analysis to the exactly solvable loop quantization of a spatially flat, homogeneous and isotropic cosmology sourced with a massless, minimally coupled scalar field known as sLQC. We provide an explicit, rigorous and complete decoherent histories formulation for this model and compute the probabilities for the occurrence of a quantum bounce vs. a singularity. Using the scalar field as an emergent internal time, we show for generic states that the probability for a singularity to occur in this model is zero, and that of a bounce is unity, complementing earlier studies of the expectation values of the volume and matter density in this theory. We also show from the consistent histories point of view that all states in this model, whether quantum or classical, achieve arbitrarily large volume in the limit of infinite `past' or `future' scalar `time', in the sense that the wave function evaluated at any arbitrary fixed value of the volume vanishes in that limit. Finally, we briefly discuss certain misconceptions concerning the utility of the consistent histories approach in these models.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1306.6142

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45) Space-time singularities, cosmic censorship, etc. (83C75) Relativistic cosmology (83F05)

Cited In (8)

• A diffeomorphism invariant family of metric-affine actions for loop cosmologies
• State refinements and coarse graining in a full theory embedding of loop quantum cosmology
• Time in fundamental physics
• Consistent loop quantum cosmology
• Big bang singularity resolution in quantum cosmology
• Space-like singularities of general relativity: a phantom menace?
• A note on the scalar products in sLQC
• Consistent histories in quantum cosmology

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