Singularities in a scalar field quantum cosmology

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review, D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.53.4275· OSTI ID:279951

Lemos, N A ^[1]

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1. Center for Theoretical Physics, Laboratory for Nuclear Science and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

The quantum theory of a spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe with a massless scalar field as the source is further investigated. The classical model is singular and in the framework of a genuine canonical quantization (Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism) a discussion is made of the cosmic evolution, particularly of the quantum gravitational collapse problem. It is shown that in a matter-time gauge such that time is identified with the scalar field the classical model is singular either at {ital t}={minus}{infinity} or at {ital t}=+{infinity}, but the quantum model is nonsingular. The latter behavior disproves a conjecture according to which quantum cosmological singularities are predetermined on the classical level by the choice of time. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• DOE Contract Number: FC02-94ER40818
• OSTI ID: 279951
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D, Journal Name: Physical Review, D Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 53; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
COSMOLOGY
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
QUANTIZATION
QUANTUM GRAVITY
SCALAR FIELDS
SINGULARITY
UNIVERSE