Quantum coherence, wormholes, and the cosmological constant

W. G. Unruh
Phys. Rev. D 40, 1053 – Published 15 August 1989
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Abstract

Coleman has argued that if wormhole solutions to the Euclidean action coupled to matter dominate the Euclidean path integral for quantum gravity, they do not lead to a loss of quantum coherence for wave functions in our Universe. Furthermore, they also lead to the prediction that the "ultimate" cosmological constant is zero. I analyze the assumptions that go into this result and argue that the presence of wormhole solutions does lead to a loss of quantum coherence and, furthermore, completely destroys the Euclidean quantum theory by producing a highly nonlocal effective Euclidean action which is violently unbounded from below.

  • Received 4 October 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.40.1053

©1989 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

W. G. Unruh

  • Cosmology Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A6

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Vol. 40, Iss. 4 — 15 August 1989

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