Initial Conditions for a Universe

Abstract

In physical theories, boundary or initial conditions play the role of selecting special situations which can be described by a theory with its general laws. Cosmology has long been suspected to be different in that its fundamental theory should explain the fact that we can observe only one particular realization. This is not realized, however, in the classical formulation and in its conventional quantization; the situation is even worse due to the singularity problem. In recent years, a new formulation of quantum cosmology has been developed which is based on quantum geometry, a candidate for a theory of quantum gravity. Here, the dynamical law and initial conditions turn out to be linked intimately, in combination with a solution of the singularity problem.

7 pages, this essay was awarded First Prize in the Gravity Research Foundation Essay Contest 2003

Cited by in corpus (34)

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• Loop Quantum Cosmology
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• Loop Quantum Cosmology in Bianchi Type I Models: Analytical Investigation
• Bouncing cosmological solutions from f(R,T) gravity
• Loop Quantum Cosmology: Recent Progress
• Loop Quantum Gravity and the Cyclic Universe
• On (Cosmological) Singularity Avoidance in Loop Quantum Gravity
• Nonsingular Black Holes and Degrees of Freedom in Quantum Gravity
• Effective State Metamorphosis in Semi-Classical Loop Quantum Cosmology
• Absence of pre-classical solutions in Bianchi I loop quantum cosmology
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• Coordinate time dependence in Quantum Gravity
• The Volume Operator in Spherically Symmetric Quantum Geometry
• Degenerate Configurations, Singularities and the Non-Abelian Nature of Loop Quantum Gravity
• Elements of Loop Quantum Cosmology
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• A Singular Conformal Spacetime
• The Early Universe in Loop Quantum Cosmology
• Separable sequences in Bianchi I loop quantum cosmology
• Quantum Geometry and its Implications for Black Holes
• What kind of science is cosmology?
• Asymptotic Properties of Difference Equations for Isotropic Loop Quantum Cosmology
• Approximate pre-classical solutions in loop quantum cosmology
• Quantum mechanics allows setting initial conditions at a cosmological singularity: Gowdy model example
• Universe scenarios from loop quantum cosmology
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• The quantum gravitational black hole is neither black nor white
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• Quantum Gravity and the Big Bang
• Quantum Dyanmics of Loop Quantum Gravity
• Initial Condition Problem is Intractable in Cosmology