Cosmic acceleration from quantum Friedmann equations

Abstract

We consider a simplified model of quantum gravity using a mini-superspace description of an isotropic and homogeneous universe with dust. We derive the corresponding Friedmann equations for the scale factor, which now contain a dependence on the wave function. We identify wave functions for which the quantum effects lead to a period of accelerated expansion that is in agreement with the apparent evolution of our universe, without introducing a cosmological constant.

15 pages, 5 figures