Quantum cosmology and open universes

D. H. Coule and Jérôme Martin
Phys. Rev. D 61, 063501 – Published 7 February 2000
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Abstract

The quantum creation of universes with compact spacelike sections that have curvature k either closed, flat, or open, i.e., k=±1,0, is studied. In the flat and open cases, the superpotential of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation is significantly modified, and as a result the qualitative behavior of a typical wave function differs from the traditional closed case. In the open case boundary conditions that include the tunneling ones are allowed but not the no-boundary choice. Restricting ourselves to the tunneling boundary condition, and applying it in turn to each of these curvatures, it is shown that quantum cosmology actually suggests that the universe is open, k=1. In all cases sufficient inflation 60 e foldings are predicted: this is an improvement over classical measures that generally are ambiguous as to whether inflation is certain to occur.

  • Received 12 May 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.61.063501

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

D. H. Coule*

  • School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Mercantile House, Hampshire Terrace, Portsmouth PO1 2EG, United Kingdom

Jérôme Martin

  • DARC, Observatoire de Paris-CNRS UMR 8629, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France

  • *Email address: David.Coule@port.ac.uk
  • Email address: martin@edelweiss.obspm.fr

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Issue

Vol. 61, Iss. 6 — 15 March 2000

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