Quantum cosmology. A fundamental description of the universe.

Issues of holonomy in differential geometry (53C29) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to quantum theory (81-02) Gravitational interaction in quantum theory (81V17) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to relativity and gravitational theory (83-02) Einstein's equations (general structure, canonical formalism, Cauchy problems) (83C05) Exact solutions to problems in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C15) Gravitational energy and conservation laws; groups of motions (83C40) Quantization of the gravitational field (83C45) Macroscopic interaction of the gravitational field with matter (hydrodynamics, etc.) (83C55) Space-time singularities, cosmic censorship, etc. (83C75) Relativistic cosmology (83F05)

Review text

Quantum gravity at present is not constructed on firm ground; it rather grows toward a certain vaguely formulated aim. Remarking this, nevertheless, the author thinks that it should be applied to cosmology because, first, he considers a quantum description of cosmology a requirement for a complete and consistent worldview and, secondly, it can provide an entrance into the rather messy field of tools and open problems of quantum gravity. Although the author sees, not generally but at least as far as its quantum level is concerned, that cosmology encounters severe conceptual problems he contents himself with the remark that, despite many activities for several decades, a proper understanding of this situation remains a challenge. In Part I, starting from the Friedmann and Raychaudhuri equations of homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Lemaitere-Robertson-Walker universe models, first, the Wheeler-DeWitt quantization is briefly discussed, mainly in order to name general problems of quantizing gravity. Quantum geometry, i.e., the quantized space-time structure, is discussed, where many relevant features can already be seen by analogy with quantized particles, then borne out by rigorous constructions of quantum space-time. Afterwards, the author makes it plausible that, instead of trying to quantize classical observables, a two-step procedure looks more promising: one first considers just spatial quantum geometry at a fixed time (referring to objects such as lengths, areas, volumes which for given regions are coordinate-independent), and then imposes additional constraints to make sure that such objects are combined to space-time observables. By hinting at the fact that the canonical quantization à la Wheeler-DeWitt has not solved the problem of forming a complete set of coordinate-independent measures of spatial geometry, which when applied beyond homogeneous models are practically applicable, the need of a change of the phase-space variables is motivated. After introducing ADM variables and going over from them to Ashtekar-Barbero variables and finally to holonomy-flux objects, it is first shown that the latter can be viewed as creation operators. In this framework forming the basis of loop quantum gravity one can construct more familiar geometrical objects from the elementary fluxes, such as the area of a surface or the volume of a region having, just like fluxes, discrete spectra. After these general and summarizing remarks, presenting the basis for loop quantization as a specific form of canonical quantization, thered follows a section, where some of the characteristic constructions of this quantization are illustrated and partly evaluated in the case of isotropic models. The last section of Part I centers on the most challenging step towards quantum gravity. It outlines how the structures of spatial quantum geometry can be fitted into a consistent quantum space-time which, in a certain sense, reduces to a solution of Einstein's equations in a semi-classical or low-curvature limit. In the case of cosmological models, this implies particularly the problem to prevent by a suitable refinement that any kind of discreteness is enlarged by the expansion of the universe and becomes macroscopic. Discussing effects of quantum dynamics it is made plausible that, independently of the kind of the refinement scheme, the singularity (appearing at the classical level in the scale factor) can be removed. There are several effects involved near the highly quantum phase around the singularity. One finds, however, special cases, where one of the effects is dominant or where the effects can be separated from one another. They allow the author to develop effective descriptions which provide more intuitive pictures of at least some aspects of singularity resolution in loop quantum cosmology. Effective descriptions are the topic of Part II. They are first applied to quantum cosmology in the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and then to the loop quantum form. This shows an intuitive mechanism of resolving singularities by repulsive quantum forces and makes clear that quantum dynamics, not just quantum geometry, is highly relevant to understand the big bang. Isotropic models are very special already in their classical dynamics and show properties, in particular regarding singularities, that are not generically realized in anisotropic cases. Therefore, Part III extends constructions and results from isotropic models to several less symmetric cases, first to anisotropic ones, including also models of the Schwarzschild interior solution, and then some cases of inhomogeneous geometries. This third Part is finished by a section, where inhomogeneities are introduced as perturbations on a homogeneous background space-time. Part IV is a discussion of the mathematical issues involved in quantum cosmology concerning properties of difference equations, the derivation and the use of physical Hilbert spaces, and general aspects of effective descriptions. Following the author, it should be mentioned that a part of the material in this book is based on his own works and any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect other authors' views.

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