Boundary conditions in quantum cosmology

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.33.3560· OSTI ID:5798986

Vilenkin, A

The problem of boundary conditions for the cosmological wave function psi is analyzed using a simple model as an example. The model has two degrees of freedom: the scale factor and a homogeneous scalar field. A tunneling wave function is found for this model which describes an ensemble of universes tunneling from ''nothing'' to a de Sitter space, then evolving along the lines of an inflationary scenario and eventually collapsing to a singularity. A boundary condition in superspace is proposed which selects the tunneling solution for psi. This boundary condition can be thought of as a quantum version of the Penrose condition in classical general relativity. The probability current, the concept of time, and the possibility of an experimental test of quantum cosmology are also discussed.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155
• OSTI ID: 5798986
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 33:12; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
COSMOLOGY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
HAMILTONIANS
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PROBABILITY
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM GRAVITY
QUANTUM OPERATORS
SCALAR FIELDS
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
SPACE-TIME
UNIVERSE
WAVE EQUATIONS
WAVE FUNCTIONS