Quantum cosmology with a positive-definite action

Journal Article · Fri Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.31.1169· OSTI ID:5924405

Horowitz, G T

We argue that the indefiniteness of the Euclidean Einstein action is more serious in the cosmological context than in the asymptotically Euclidean context. To correct this, we consider a positive-definite action containing quadratic curvature terms. The physical states Psi are now functions of both a three-metric q/sub a/b and extrinsic curvature K/sub a/b, and satisfy a differential equation analogous to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation. This equation has the form of a Schroedinger equation with q/sub a/b playing the role of ''time.'' By adopting Hartle and Hawking's boundary condition on the Euclidean function integral, we obtain a ''preferred'' solution to this equation. It is shown that in a simple minisuperspace model this wave function describes an inflationary universe.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
• OSTI ID: 5924405
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 31:6; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
COSMOLOGY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EUCLIDEAN SPACE
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
METRICS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM GRAVITY
RIEMANN SPACE
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
SPACE
UNIVERSE
WAVE EQUATIONS
WAVE FUNCTIONS