Quantum Cosmology and the Constants of Nature

Abstract

In models where the constants of Nature can take more than one set of values, the cosmological wave function $\psi$ describes an ensemble of universes with different values of the constants. The probability distribution for the constants can be determined with the aid of the `principle of mediocrity' which asserts that we are a `typical' civilization in this ensemble. I discuss the implications of this approach for inflationary scenarios, the origin of density fluctuations, and the cosmological constant.

arXiv comment12 pages; talk given at the RESCEU Symposium, Tokyo, Nov. 1995

References in corpus (3)

• Predictions from Quantum Cosmology
• Non-Thermal Phase Transitions after Inflation
• Uncertainties of predictions in models of eternal inflation

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Properties of the scale factor measure
• Life at the Interface of Particle Physics and String Theory
• Is Our Universe Natural?
• M-theory, Cosmological Constant and Anthropic Principle
• M/String Theory, S-branes and Accelerating Universe
• Space for Both No-Boundary and Tunneling Quantum States of the Universe
• On making predictions in a multiverse: conundrums, dangers, and coincidences
• The Exact Determination of the Cosmological Constant