On the possibility of dark energy from corrections to the Wheeler–DeWitt equation

We present a method for approximating the effective consequence of generic quantum gravity corrections to the Wheeler–DeWitt equation. We show that in many cases these corrections can produce departures from classical physics at large scales and that this behaviour can be interpreted as additional matter components. This opens up the possibility that dark energy (and possible dark matter) could be large scale manifestations of quantum gravity corrections to classical general relativity. As a specific example we examine the first order corrections to the Wheeler–DeWitt equation arising from loop quantum cosmology in the absence of lattice refinement and show how the ultimate breakdown in large scale physics occurs.     

Exact solutions of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation and the Yamabe construction

Exact solutions of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation of the full theory of four dimensional gravity of Lorentzian signature are obtained. They are characterized by Schrödinger wavefunctionals having support on 3-metrics of constant spatial scalar curvature, and thus contain two full physical field degrees of freedom in accordance with the Yamabe construction. These solutions are moreover Gaussians of minimum uncertainty and they are naturally associated with a rigged Hilbert space. In addition, in the limit the regulator is removed, exact 3-dimensional diffeomorphism and local gauge invariance of the solutions are recovered.     

Quantization of Coset Space σ-Models Coupled to Two-Dimensional Gravity

The mathematical framework for an exact quantization of the two-dimensio‐nal coset space σ-models coupled to dilaton gravity, that arise from dimensional reduction of gravity and supergravity theories, is presented. Extending previous results [49] the two-time Hamiltonian formulation is obtained, which describes the complete phase space of the model in the isomonodromic sector. The Dirac brackets arising from the coset constraints are calculated. Their quantization allows to relate exact solutions of the corresponding Wheeler–DeWitt equations to solutions of a modified (Coset-)Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov system. Received: 25 July 1996 / Accepted: 23 April 1997     

Wave function of the quantum black hole

We show that the Wald Noether-charge entropy is canonically conjugate to the opening angle at the horizon. Using this canonical relation, we extend the Wheeler–DeWitt equation to a Schrödinger equation in the opening angle, following Carlip and Teitelboim. We solve the equation in the semiclassical approximation by using the correspondence principle and find that the solutions are minimal uncertainty wavefunctions with a continuous spectrum for the entropy and therefore also of the area of the black hole horizon. The fact that the opening angle fluctuates away from its classical value of 2π indicates that the quantum black hole is a superposition of horizonless states. The classical geometry with a horizon serves only to evaluate quantum expectation values in the strict classical limit.     

Noncommutative Bianchi Type II Quantum Cosmology

In this paper we present the noncommutative Bianchi Class A cosmological models coupled to barotropic perfect fluid. The commutative and noncommutative quantum solution to the Wheeler–DeWitt equation for any factor ordering, to the anisotropic Bianchi type II cosmological model are found, using a stiff fluid (γ=1). In our toy model, we introduce noncommutative scale factors, is say, we consider that all minisuperspace variables q ⁱ does not commute, so the simplectic structure was modified.     

Bianchi I Quantum Cosmology in the Bergmann–Wagoner Theory

The Wheeler–DeWitt equation is considered in the context of generalized scalar-tensor theories of gravitation for the Bianchi type I cosmology. Exact solutions are found for two selfinteracting potentials and arbitrary coupling function. The WKB wavefunctions are obtained and a family of solutions satisfying the Hawking–Page regularity conditions of wormholes are found.     

Higher-derivative Quantum Cosmology

The quantum cosmology of a higher-derivative gravity theory arising from the heterotic string effective action is reviewed. A new type of Wheeler–DeWitt equation is obtained when the dilaton is coupled to the quadratic curvature terms. Techniques for solving the Wheeler–DeWitt equation with appropriate boundary conditions shall be described, and implications for semiclassical theories of inflationary cosmology will be outlined.     

Quantum geometrodynamics: whence,whither?

Quantum geometrodynamics is canonical quantum gravity with the three-metric as the configuration variable. Its central equation is the Wheeler–DeWitt equation. Here I give an overview of the status of this approach. The issues discussed include the problem of time, the relation to the covariant theory, the semiclassical approximation as well as applications to black holes and cosmology. I conclude that quantum geometrodynamics is still a viable approach and provides insights into both the conceptual and technical aspects of quantum gravity.

These considerations reveal that the concepts of spacetime and time itself are not primary but secondary ideas in the structure of physical theory. These concepts are valid in the classical approximation. However, they have neither meaning nor application under circumstances when quantum-geometrodynamical effects become important. ...There is no spacetime, there is no time, there is no before, there is no after. The question what happens “next” is without meaning [1].

Dedicated to the memory of John Archibald Wheeler.     

Perfect fluid quantum Universe in the presence of negative cosmological constant

We present perfect fluid Friedmann–Robertson–Walker quantum cosmological models in the presence of negative cosmological constant. In this work the Schutz’s variational formalism is applied for radiation, dust, cosmic string, and domain wall dominated Universes with positive, negative, and zero constant spatial curvature. In this approach the notion of time can be recovered. These give rise to Wheeler–DeWitt equations for the scale factor. We find their eigenvalues and eigenfunctions by using Spectral Method. After that, we use the eigenfunctions in order to construct wave packets for each case and evaluate the time-dependent expectation value of the scale factors, which are found to oscillate between finite maximum and minimum values. Since the expectation values of the scale factors never tends to the singular point, we have an initial indication that these models may not have singularities at the quantum level.     

Global Phase Time and Wave Function for the Kantowski-Sachs Anisotropic Universe

A consistent quantization with a clear notion of time and evolution is given for the anisotropic Kantowski–Sachs cosmological model. It is shown that a suitable coordinate choice allows to obtain a solution of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation in the form of definite energy states, and that the results can be associated to two disjoint equivalent theories, one for each sheet of the constraint surface.     

The Causal Interpretation of Conformally Coupled Scalar Field Quantum Cosmology

We apply the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics to homogeneous and isotropic quantum cosmology, where the source of the gravitational field is a conformally coupled scalar field, and the maximally symmetric hypersurfaces have positive curvature. In order to simplify the system of coupled equations studied and study the quantum behavior near the singularity, we restricted ourselves to the cases where the scale factor is small. In this case, the general solution of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation is a discrete superposition of Hermitian polynomials multiplied by complex exponentials. Superpositions with up to two parcels are studied, and the phase diagrams of their corresponding Bohmian trajectories are analyzed in detail. Nonsingular periodic quantum solutions are found. We also find that singular quantum solutions present an inflationary era in the begining of the Universe. Numerical calculations indicates that these results remain valid for general superpositions.     

Extracting the Maxwell charge from the Wheeler–DeWitt equation

We consider the Wheeler–DeWitt equation as a device for finding eigenvalues of a Sturm–Liouville problem. In particular, we will focus our attention on the electric (magnetic) Maxwell charge. In this context, we interpret the Maxwell charge as an eigenvalue of the Wheeler–De Witt equation generated by the gravitational field fluctuations. A variational approach with Gaussian trial wave functionals is used as a method to study the existence of such an eigenvalue. We restrict the analysis to the graviton sector of the perturbation. We approximate the equation to one loop in a Schwarzschild background and a zeta function regularization is involved to handle with divergences. The regularization is closely related to the subtraction procedure appearing in the computation of Casimir energy in a curved background. A renormalization procedure is introduced to remove the infinities together with a renormalization group equation.     

Constraints on operator ordering from third quantization

In this paper, we analyse the Wheeler–DeWitt equation in the third quantized formalism. We will demonstrate that for certain operator ordering, the early stages of the universe are dominated by quantum fluctuations, and the universe becomes classical at later stages during the cosmic expansion. This is physically expected, if the universe is formed from quantum fluctuations in the third quantized formalism. So, we will argue that this physical requirement can be used to constrain the form of the operator ordering chosen. We will explicitly demonstrate this to be the case for two different cosmological models.     

On the conformally coupled scalar field quantum cosmology

We propose a new initial condition for the homogeneous and isotropic quantum cosmology, where the source of the gravitational field is a conformally coupled scalar field, and the maximally symmetric hypersurfaces have positive curvature. After solving corresponding Wheeler–DeWitt equation, we obtain exact solutions in both classical and quantum levels. We propose appropriate initial condition for the wave packets which results in a complete classical and quantum correspondence. These wave packets closely follow the classical trajectories and peak on them. We also quantify this correspondence using de Broglie–Bohm interpretation of quantum mechanics. Using this proposal, the quantum potential vanishes along the Bohmian paths and the classical and Bohmian trajectories coincide with each other. We show that the model contains singularities even at the quantum level. Therefore, the resulting wave packets closely follow the classical trajectories from big-bang to big-crunch.     

Wave Functions for Arbitrary Operator Ordering in the de Sitter Minisuperspace Approximation

We derive exact series solutions for the Wheeler–DeWitt equation corresponding to a spatially closed Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe with cosmological constant for arbitrary operator ordering of the scale factor of the universe. The resulting wave functions are those relevant to the approximation which has been widely used in two-dimensional minisuperspace models with an inflationary scalar field for the purpose of predicting the period of inflation which results from competing boundary condition proposals for the wave function of the universe. The problem that Vilenkin's tunneling wave function is not normalizable for general operator orderings, is shown to persist for other values of the spatial curvature, and when additional matter degrees of freedom such as radiation are included.     

Loop quantum cosmology and the Wheeler–De Witt equation

We present some results concerning the large volume limit of loop quantum cosmology in the flat homogeneous and isotropic case. We derive the Wheeler–De Witt equation in this limit. Looking for the action from which this equation can also be obtained, we then address the problem of the modifications to be brought to the Friedman’s equation and to the equation of motion of the scalar field, in the classical limit.     

Quantum Cosmology in Higher Derivative and Scalar-Tensor Gravity

The Bicknell theorem states that a non-linear Lagrangian can be recast in the form of a scalar-tensor theory, with a suitable potential, through a conformal transformation. In this paper, we first show that such classical equivalence remains valid at the level of the Wheeler—deWitt equation. Then, we consider a specific case, represented by a Lagrangian f(R) = R + l^–2(l²R)^4/3 whose vacuum cosmological solutions describe a non-singular Universe. The corresponding scalar-tensor theory and its cosmological solutions are written down. We find again non-singular solutions. The Wheeler—deWitt equation for this case is analyzed. The application of the Bicknell theorem leads to the interpretation of the behaviour of the scale factor in terms of the matter content, represented by the scalar field, and consequently to the energy conditions. The problem of classical and quantum regime is discussed and the classical behaviour is recovered, from the quantum solutions, near the maximum of the scale factor where the strong energy condition is satisfied.     

Quantum gravity: yesterday and today

Bryce DeWitt was one of the great pioneers of quantum gravity. This unpublished lecture gives his recent views on the topic, which we believe will be of great interest not only to researchers involved in modern attempts to quantize Einstein’s theory, but also to a much wider audience. It is the first installment of a book “The Pursuit of Quantum Gravity 1946–2004; Memoirs of Bryce DeWitt” that Cecile DeWitt is preparing. We would like to thank her for the permission to publish this lecture separately in General Relativity and Gravitation. Readers who have unpublished material such as letters from Bryce, and would be willing to send copies to Cecile, are hereby invited to do so. She would be very grateful. G.F.R. Ellis, H. Nicolai (Editors-in-chief). This article was found in Bryce’s files without references and without an indication of its purpose. References and the name of a previously anonymous student have been supplied by Cecile DeWitt and Brandon DiNunno. Bryce DeWitt (1923–2004). An erratum to this article can be found at