Quantum phantom cosmology

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.74.044022· OSTI ID:20871000

DaPbrowski, Mariusz P; Kiefer, Claus; Sandhoefer, Barbara ^[1]

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1. Institute of Physics, University of Szczecin, Wielkopolska 15, 70-451 Szczecin (Poland)

We apply the formalism of quantum cosmology to models containing a phantom field. Three models are discussed explicitly: a toy model, a model with an exponential phantom potential, and a model with phantom field accompanied by a negative cosmological constant. In all these cases we calculate the classical trajectories in configuration space and give solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation in quantum cosmology. In the cases of the toy model and the model with exponential potential we are able to solve the Wheeler-DeWitt equation exactly. For comparison, we also give the corresponding solutions for an ordinary scalar field. We discuss, in particular, the behavior of wave packets in minisuperspace. For the phantom field these packets disperse in the region that corresponds to the big-rip singularity. This thus constitutes a genuine quantum region at large scales, described by a regular solution of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation. For the ordinary scalar field, the big-bang singularity is avoided. Some remarks on the arrow of time in phantom models as well as on the relation of phantom models to loop quantum cosmology are given.

• OSTI ID: 20871000
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 74; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
COSMOLOGY
FIELD EQUATIONS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
PHANTOMS
POTENTIALS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SCALAR FIELDS
SINGULARITY
WAVE PACKETS