Reduced density matrices and decoherence in quantum cosmology

Raymond Laflamme and Jorma Louko
Phys. Rev. D 43, 3317 – Published 15 May 1991
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

We investigate a quantum cosmological model consisting of inhomogeneous massless minimally coupled scalar field perturbations on a closed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker minisuperspace model with a spatially homogeneous massless minimally coupled scalar field. We discuss how to define a reduced density matrix by summing over the perturbations in the full density matrix, using the approximate Hilbert-space structure that exists for the perturbation wave function when the minisuperspace part of the wave function is of the WKB form. We then concentrate on two particular candidates for a reduced density matrix and discuss their relation to particle creation effects in quantum field theory on curved spacetime. Our results do not suggest that decoherence in the reduced density matrices could be directly identified as a lack of interference between the classical trajectories that correspond to a WKB minisuperspace part of the total wave function.

  • Received 26 November 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.43.3317

©1991 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Raymond Laflamme*,†

  • Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agriculture Road, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A6 and Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW, United Kingdom

Jorma Louko

  • Theoretical Physics Institute, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2J1

  • *Electronic address: r1104@phx.cam.ac.uk.
  • Present address.
  • Electronic address: jlouko@ualtavm.

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 43, Iss. 10 — 15 May 1991

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×