Quantum Cosmology
arXiv:2309.01790 · doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-95703-8.00254-8
Abstract
Invited contribution to the Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (2nd edition), providing an overview over some main ideas and results in quantum cosmology. Key points: Canonical quantisation of homogeneous, isotropic cosmology; discussion of ambiguities in this quantisation; Construction of explicit solutions, attempts at physical interpretation; conceptual issues (time evolution, unitarity, probability interpretation); Introduction of scalar fields or perfect fluids; Discussion of whether classical singularities are resolved; Addition of inhomogeneities, possible predictions for primordial cosmology; Connections to string theory and loop quantum gravity.
Review article, 21 pages. To be published by Elsevier in the Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (2nd edition). v2: fixed a typo in Eq.(3)
References in corpus (7)
- The Superspace of Geometrodynamics
- Singularity resolution depends on the clock
- Review of the No-Boundary Wave Function
- What is the No-Boundary Wave Function of the Universe?
- Singularity avoidance in Bianchi I quantum cosmology
- Classical Inflationary and Ekpyrotic Universes in the No-Boundary Wavefunction
- Quantum empty Bianchi I spacetime with internal time