Consistent Histories in Quantum Cosmology

We illustrate the crucial role played by decoherence (consistency of quantum histories) in extracting consistent quantum probabilities for alternative histories in quantum cosmology. Specifically, within a Wheeler-DeWitt quantization of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological model sourced with a free massless scalar field, we calculate the probability that the universe is singular in the sense that it assumes zero volume. Classical solutions of this model are a disjoint set of expanding and contracting singular branches. A naive assessment of the behavior of quantum states which are superpositions of expanding and contracting universes suggests that a “quantum bounce” is possible i.e. that the wave function of the universe may remain peaked on a non-singular classical solution throughout its history. However, a more careful consistent histories analysis shows that for arbitrary states in the physical Hilbert space the probability of this Wheeler-DeWitt quantum universe encountering the big bang/crunch singularity is equal to unity. A quantum Wheeler-DeWitt universe is inevitably singular, and a “quantum bounce” is thus not possible in these models.     

球对称动态黑洞的量子能层效应

用Newman-Penrose形式,研究了球对称动态时空中的引力、电磁、标量和Dirac场,表明量子能层会影响动态黑洞的辐射机制.与Kerr能层和电磁势产生的经典效应不同,这个效应的特征是辐射机制明显依赖于自旋态. 关键词：     

Quantum-invariant theory and the evolution of a Dirac field in Friedmann–Robertson–Walker flat space-times

On the basis of the generalized invariant formulation, the invariant-related unitary transformation method is used to study the evolution of a quantum Dirac field in Friedmann–Robertson–Walker spatially flat space-times. We first solve the functional Schr?dinger equation for a free Dirac field and obtain the exact solutions. We then investigate the way of extending the method to treat the case in which there is an interaction between the Dirac field and a scalar field. Received: 17 July 1999 / Published online: 6 March 2000     

Dirac方程中的量子与经典对应

根据Heisenberg对应原理(HCP),在经典极限下厄密算符的量子矩阵元对应经典物理量的Fourier展开系数.将HCP应用到相对论领域的Dirac方程中,对于自由粒子和在匀磁场中的带电粒子,其量子算符的矩阵元在经典极限下对应着相对论物理方程的解.计算表明,在经典极限下量子期望值就是对应经典物理量的时间平均值.     

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.     

Dynamical Horizon Entropy Bound Conjecture in Loop Quantum Cosmology

The covariant entropy bound conjecture is an important hint for the quantum gravity, with several versions available in the literature. For cosmology, Ashtekar and Wilson-Ewing ever show the consistence between the loop gravity theory and one version of this conjecture. Recently, He and Zhang [J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2007) 077] proposed a version for the dynamical horizon of the universe, which validates the entropy bound conjecture for the cosmology filled with perfect fluid in the classical scenario when the universe is far away from the big bang singularity. However, their conjecture breaks down near big bang region. We examine this conjecture in the context of the loop quantum cosmology. With the example of photon gas, this conjecture is protected by the quantum geometry effects as expected.     

Dynamical Horizon Entropy Bound Conjecture in Loop Quantum Cosmology

The covariant entropy bound conjecture is an important hint for the quantum gravity, with several versions available in the literature. For cosmology, Ashtekar and Wilson-Ewing ever show the consistence between the loop gravity theory and one version of this conjecture. Recently, He and Zhang [J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2007) 077] proposed a version for the dynamical horizon of the universe, which validates the entropy bound conjecture for the cosmology filled with perfect fluid in the classical scenario when the universe is far away from the big bang singularity. However, their conjecture breaks down near big bang region. We examine this conjecture in the context of the loop quantum cosmology. With the example of photon gas, this conjecture is protected by the quantum geometry effects as expected.     

Noncommutativity effects in FRW scalar field cosmology

We study effects of noncommutativity on the phase space generated by a non-minimal scalar field which is conformally coupled to the background curvature in an isotropic and homogeneous FRW cosmology. These effects are considered in two cases, when the potential of scalar field has zero and nonzero constant values. The investigation is carried out by means of a comparative detailed analysis of mathematical features of the evolution of universe and the most probable universe wave functions in classically commutative and noncommutative frames and quantum counterparts. The influence of noncommutativity is explored by the two noncommutative parameters of space and momentum sectors with a relative focus on the role of the noncommutative parameter of momentum sector. The solutions are presented with some of their numerical diagrams, in the commutative and noncommutative scenarios, and their properties are compared. We find that impose of noncommutativity in the momentum sector causes more ability in tuning time solutions of variables in classical level, and has more probable states of universe in quantum level. We also demonstrate that special solutions in classical and allowed wave functions in quantum models impose bounds on the values of noncommutative parameters.     

The hypergeneralized Heun equation in quantum field theory in curved space-times

We show for the first time the role played by the hypergeneralized Heun equation (HHE) in the context of quantum field theory in curved space-times. More precisely, we find suitable transformations relating the separated radial and angular parts of a massive Dirac equation in the Kerr-Newman-deSitter metric to a HHE.     

Republication of: Propagators,commutators and anti-commutators in general relativity

This is an English translation of A. Lichnerowicz’ 1964 paper “Propagateurs, commutateurs et anticommutateurs en relativité générale”. It was based on lectures at a Les Houches school, and gave a classic summary of the author’s work on quantum propagators in curved space-times, introducing tensorial and spinorial propagators which generalise the flat space propagators of Jordan and Pauli. It gives the quantum commutators for the Maxwell and Dirac fields and for perturbations of the gravitational field, and numerous intermediate formulae. The results are basic to quantum field theory in curved space-times. The paper has been selected by the Editors of General Relativity and Gravitation for re-publication in the Golden Oldies series of the journal. This republication is accompanied by an editorial note written by G. Esposito and by a brief biography written by M. A. H. MacCallum.     

Entropy bounds and Cardy–Verlinde formula in Yang–Mills theory

Using gauge formulation of gravity the three-dimensional SU(2) YM theory equations of motion are presented in equivalent form as FRW cosmological equations. With the radiation, the particular (periodic, big bang – big crunch) three-dimensional universe is constructed. Cosmological entropy bounds (so-called Cardy–Verlinde formula) have the standard form in such universe. Mapping such universe back to YM formulation we got the thermal solution of YM theory. The corresponding holographic entropy bounds (Cardy–Verlinde formula) in YM theory are constructed. This indicates to universal character of holographic relations.     

Zitterbewegung of a Model Universe

We investigate the quantum evolution of the metric operators for Bianchi-Type I model universes in the Heisenberg picture in order to remove the need to consider the wave function of the universe and interpret its “spin” variables. The calculation is analogous to that of the Zitterbewegung of the Dirac electron. We consider the behavior of the metric near the classical singularity, and consider the curvature there. Although factor ordering questions preclude the presentation of an unambiguous result for the curvature invariants, it does seem that the classical t ⁻⁴ divergence of the Kretschmann scalar is not removed by quantization.     

Gravity and Spin Forces in Gravitational Quantum Field Theory

In the new framework of gravitational quantum field theory (GQFT) with spin and scaling gauge invariance developed in Phys. Rev. D 93 (2016) 024012-1, we make a perturbative expansion for the full action in a background field which accounts for the early inflationary universe. We decompose the bicovariant vector fields of gravifield and spin gauge field with Lorentz and spin symmetries SO(1,3) and SP(1,3) in biframe spacetime into SO(3) representations for deriving the propagators of the basic quantum fields and extract their interaction terms. The leading order Feynman rules are presented. A tree-level 2 to 2 scattering amplitude of the Dirac fermions, through a gravifield and a spin gauge field, is calculated and compared to the Born approximation of the potential. It is shown that the Newton's gravitational law in the early universe is modified due to the background field. The spin dependence of the gravitational potential is demonstrated.     

Massless Spin–Zero Particle and the Classical Action via Hamilton–Jacobi Equation in G?del Universe

In this letter we investigate the separability of the Klein–Gordon and Hamilton–Jacobi equation in G?del universe. We show that the Klein–Gordon eigen modes are quantized and the complete spectrum of the particle’s energy is a mixture of an azimuthal quantum number, m and a principal quantum number, n and a continuous wave number k. We also show that the Hamilton–Jacobi equation gives a closed function for classical action. These results may be used to calculate the Casimir vacuum energy in G?del universe.     

Gravity and Spin Forces in Gravitational Quantum Field Theory

In the new framework of gravitational quantum field theory(GQFT) with spin and scaling gauge invariance developed in Phys. Rev. D 93(2016) 024012-1, we make a perturbative expansion for the full action in a background field which accounts for the early inflationary universe. We decompose the bicovariant vector fields of gravifield and spin gauge field with Lorentz and spin symmetries SO(1,3) and SP(1,3) in biframe spacetime into SO(3) representations for deriving the propagators of the basic quantum fields and extract their interaction terms. The leading order Feynman rules are presented. A tree-level 2 to 2 scattering amplitude of the Dirac fermions, through a gravifield and a spin gauge field, is calculated and compared to the Born approximation of the potential. It is shown that the Newton's gravitational law in the early universe is modified due to the background field. The spin dependence of the gravitational potential is demonstrated.     

Prolegomena to a theory of bifurcating universes: A nonlocal solution to the cosmological constant problem or little lambda goes back to the future

We outline a framework for describing the bifurcation of the universe into disconnected pieces, and formulate criteria for a system in which such phenomena occur, to describe local quantum physics in a single connected universe. The formalism is a four-dimensional analog of string field theory which we call Universal Field Theory (UFT). We argue that local dynamics in a single universe is a good approximation to UFT if the universal field is classical and if the vertex for emission of a new connected component of the universe is concentrated on universes of small volume. We show that classical UFT is equivalent to a Wheeler-DeWitt equation for a single connected universe plus a set of nonlocal gap equations for the couplings in the spacetime lagrangian. The effective action must be stationary with respect to the couplings. Nonlicality shoes up only at short distances. We solve the equation for the low-energy cosmological constant and show that if the universe undergoes substantial inflation then the cosmological constant is determined to be negative and very small. Its precise value may depend on the fate of nonrelativistic matter in the very late stages of universal expansion. Finally, we argue that corrections to the classical UFT are nonlocal and must be suppressed if the theory is to make sense. This may be the reason that supersymmetric vacua of string theory are not realized in nature.     

Cosmic spinor fields and the early universe

The energy production through expansion of the universe is studied for the Dirac spinor field in all three types of Robertson-Walker universes. Only in the open case is the matter production unlimited (closed universe: limited; flat universe: impossible). The physical properties of the cosmological solutions to the Dirac equation over any RW background are studied in detail.     

New dark energy constraints from supernovae, microwave background, and galaxy clustering

Using supernova, cosmic microwave background, and galaxy clustering data, we make the most accurate measurements to date of the dark energy density rho(X) as a function of cosmic time, constraining it in a rather model-independent way, assuming a flat universe. We find that Einstein's simplest scenario, where rho(X)(z) is constant, remains consistent with these new tight constraints and that a big crunch or big rip is more than 50 Gyr away for a broader class of models allowing such cataclysmic events. We discuss popular pitfalls and hidden priors.     

Time reparameterization in Bianchi type I spinor cosmology

The problem of time reparameterization is addressed at both the classical and quantum levels in a Bianchi-I universe in which the matter source is a massive Dirac spinor field. We take the scale factors of the metric as the intrinsic time and their conjugate momenta as the extrinsic time. A scalar character of the spinor field is identified as a representation of the extrinsic time. The construction of the field equations and quantization of the model is achieved by solving the Hamiltonian constraint after time identification has been dealt with. This procedure leads to a true Hamiltonian whose exact solutions for the above choices of time are presented.     

Intrinsic Entropy of Squeezed Quantum Fields and Nonequilibrium Quantum Dynamics of Cosmological Perturbations

Density contrasts in the universe are governed by scalar cosmological perturbations which, when expressed in terms of gauge-invariant variables, contain a classical component from scalar metric perturbations and a quantum component from inflaton field fluctuations. It has long been known that the effect of cosmological expansion on a quantum field amounts to squeezing. Thus, the entropy of cosmological perturbations can be studied by treating them in the framework of squeezed quantum systems. Entropy of a free quantum field is a seemingly simple yet subtle issue. In this paper, different from previous treatments, we tackle this issue with a fully developed nonequilibrium quantum field theory formalism for such systems. We compute the covariance matrix elements of the parametric quantum field and solve for the evolution of the density matrix elements and the Wigner functions, and, from them, derive the von Neumann entropy. We then show explicitly why the entropy for the squeezed yet closed system is zero, but is proportional to the particle number produced upon coarse-graining out the correlation between the particle pairs. We also construct the bridge between our quantum field-theoretic results and those using the probability distribution of classical stochastic fields by earlier authors, preserving some important quantum properties, such as entanglement and coherence, of the quantum field.