Quantum Indeterminacy of Cosmic Systems

Journal Article · Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 EST 2013

OSTI ID:1155854

Hogan, Craig J. ^[1]

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1. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

It is shown that quantum uncertainty of motion in systems controlled mainly by gravity generally grows with orbital timescale $$H^{-1}$$, and dominates classical motion for trajectories separated by distances less than $$\approx H^{-3/5}$$ in Planck units. For example, the cosmological metric today becomes indeterminate at macroscopic separations, $$H_0^{-3/5}\approx 60$$ meters. Estimates suggest that entangled non-localized quantum states of geometry and matter may significantly affect fluctuations during inflation, and connect the scale of dark energy to that of strong interactions.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 1155854
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB-13-580-A; arXiv eprint number arXiv:1312.7797
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS