Emergence of classicality for primordial fluctuations: Concepts and analogies

We clarify the way in which cosmological perturbations of quantum origin, produced during inflation, assume classical properties. Two features play an important role in this process: First, the dynamics of fluctuations which are presently on large cosmological scales leads to a very peculiar state (highly squeezed) that is indistinguishable, in a precise sense, from a classical stochastic process. This holds for almost all initial quantum states. Second, the process of decoherence by interaction with the environment distinguishes the field amplitude basis as the robust pointer basis. We discuss in detail the interplay between these features and use simple analogies such as the free quantum particle to illustrate the main conceptual issues.     

Cosmological perturbations and quantum fields in curved space

We identify the quantum theory of cosmological perturbations with the quantum field theory in curved spacetime with emphasis on its field concept. We materialize this idea by using a coherent state as a quantum analogue of a nontrivial classical field configuration. We present analytic results in a de Sitter universe for the massless and massive minimal free scalar fields. Some new features on the spectrum of perturbations are obtained for the massive case. We also show how such quantum field theories can be derived from quantum gravity using the semiclassical approximation. A physical degree of freedom is picked up from three scalar perturbations in the quantum gravity scalar system and its Schrödinger equation is derived. Peculiar features of quantum fields at imaginary time and its possible implications on boundary conditions for the wave function of the universe are also discussed.     

Spinors, Inflation, and Non-Singular Cyclic Cosmologies

We consider toy cosmological models in which a classical, homogeneous, spinor field provides a dominant or sub-dominant contribution to the energy-momentum tensor of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe. We find that, if such a field were to exist, appropriate choices of the spinor self-interaction would generate a rich variety of behaviors, quite different from their widely studied scalar field counterparts. We first discuss solutions that incorporate a stage of cosmic inflation and estimate the primordial spectrum of density perturbations seeded during such a stage. Inflation driven by a spinor field turns out to be unappealing as it leads to a blue spectrum of perturbations and requires considerable fine-tuning of parameters. We next find that, for simple, quartic spinor self-interactions, non-singular cyclic cosmologies exist with reasonable parameter choices. These solutions might eventually be incorporated into a successful past- and future-eternal cosmological model free of singularities. In an Appendix, we discuss the classical treatment of spinors and argue that certain quantum systems might be approximated in terms of such fields.     

Thermal Squeezed State Representation of Scalar Field and Energy Density in Semiclassical Theory of Gravity

The semiclassical theory of gravity is studied in terms of representation of scalar field in thermal coherent state and thermal squeezed state formalisms. For the FRW cosmological model with a minimal scalar field, the semiclassical Einstein equation reduces to zero-point energy term plus a finite temperature term and classical term in thermal coherent state. In thermal squeezed vacuum state it reduces to quantum term in addition to the finite temperature term and zero-point energy term. The present study can account for nonclassical state and finite temperature effect contributions to energy density in semiclassical theory of gravity.     

Quantum dissipative processes and gravitational entropy of the universe

We discuss the meaning of gravitational entropy of the universe when quantum dissipative processes like cosmological particle production are important and propose to use the entropy generated in these processes as a measure of the change in gravitational entropy of the spacetime dynamics. Penrose's Weyl Curvature Hypothesis is re-examined in this generalized context. It is shown that gravitational entropy defined as such can actually decrease in the quantum regime by the action of vacuum viscosity. The theoretical and cosmological implications of this postulate is discussed.     

Study of Tachyon Warm Intermediate and Logamediate Inflationary Universe from Loop Quantum Cosmological Perspective

We have studied the tachyon intermediate and logamediate warm inflation in loop quantum cosmological background by taking the dissipative co-efficient Γ=Γ₀ (where Γ₀ is a constant) in “intermediate” inflation and Γ=V(φ), (where V(φ) is the potential of tachyonic field) in “logamediate” inflation. We have assumed slow-roll condition to construct scalar field φ, potential V, N-folds, etc. Various slow-roll parameters have also been obtained. We have analyzed the stability of this model through graphical representations.     

Quantum entanglement in the multiverse

We show that the quantum state of a multiverse made up of classically disconnected regions of the space-time, whose dynamical evolution is dominated by a homogeneous and isotropic fluid, is given by a squeezed state. These are typical quantum states that have no classical counterpart and therefore allow analyzing the violation of classical inequalities as well as the EPR argument in the context of the quantum multiverse. The thermodynamical properties of entanglement are calculated for a composite quantum state of two universes whose states are quantum-mechanically correlated. The energy of entanglement between the positive and negative modes of a scalar field, which correspond to the expanding and contracting branches of a phantom universe, are also computed.     

Dynamics of scalar fields in an expanding/contracting cosmos at finite temperature

This study extends the investigation of quantum dissipative effects of a cosmological scalar field by taking into account cosmic expansion and contraction.Cheung,Drewes,Kang,and Kim calculated the effective action and quantum dissipative effects of a cosmological scalar field in a recent work,where analytical expressions for the effective potential and damping coefficient were presented using a simple scalar model with quartic interactions,and the work was conducted using Minkowski-space propagators in loop diagrams.In this work,we incorporate the Hubble expansion and contraction of the cosmic background and focus on the thermal dynamics of a scalar field in a regime where the effective potential changes slowly.Given that the Hubble parameter,H,attains a small but non-zero value,we carry out calculations to the first order in H.If we set H=0,all results match those in flat spacetime.Interestingly,we must integrate over the resonances,which in turn leads to an amplification of the effects of a non-zero H.This is an intriguing phenomenon,which cannot be uncovered in flat spacetime.The implications on particle creations in the early universe will be studied in a forthcoming study.     

Growing Classical and Quantum Entropies in the Early Universe

Following the idea that the global and local arrow of time has a cosmological origin, we define an entropy in the classical and in the quantum periods of the universe evolution. For the quantum period a semi-classical approach is adopted, modelling the universe with Wheeler-De Witt equation and using WKB. By applying the self-induced decoherence to the state of the universe it is proved that the quantum universe becomes a classical one. This allows us to define a conditional entropy which, in our simplified model, is proportional to e ^{2γ t} where γ is the dumping factor associated with the interaction potential of the scalar fields. Finally we find both Gibbs and thermodynamical entropy of the universe based in the conditional entropy.     

真空场注入三态叠加MFSS光场广义电场的等幂偶次Y压缩

对真空场注入三态叠加MFSS(多模泛函叠加态)光场|ψ_0~(3)〉q广义电场分量的等幂次偶次振幅压缩特性进行了详细研究,分析了光场经典强度、经典振幅和经典相位的任意空间分布特征、以及真空场注入对该光场的广义电场分量的等幂偶次Y压缩效应其压缩幅度和压缩量的影响。结果发现:导致态|ψ_0~(3)〉q的广义电场分量存在等幂偶次2m次方Y压缩效应的根本原因在于模间的量子干涉效应、态间的量子干涉效应以及模间和态间的量子纠缠效应;真空场注入可使该光场广义电场分量的2m次方Y压缩效应增强、压缩幅度增大、压缩程度加深。     

Conformal invariant cosmological perturbations via the covariant approach:multicomponent universe

In recent years there has been a lot of interest in discussing frame dependences/independences of the cosmological perturbations under the conformal transformations. This problem has previously been investigated in terms of the covariant approach for a single component universe, and it was found that the covariant approach is very powerful to pick out the perturbative variables which are both gauge and conformal invariant. In this work, we extend the covariant approach to a universe with multicomponent fluids. We find that similar results can be derived,as expected. In addition, some other interesting perturbations are also identified to be conformal invariant, such as entropy perturbation between two different components.     

Quantum electrodynamics of one scalar particle

The theory of the interaction between a complex scalar field and the electromagnetic field is presented with initial and final conditions that allow an interpretation in the context of the relativistic quantum mechanics of a single charged scalar particle. Included are particle scattering, antiparticle scattering, pair creation, and pair annihilation due to a classical dynamical electromagnetic field. The equations of motion are solved by a perturbation expansion, which does not lead to the troublesome divergent terms of quantum field theory.     

Comparison Between the Full Quantum Dynamics and the Quantum—Semiclassical Models to Many—Particle Systems

We consider a simple collinear collision of a “classical“ particle with a harmonic oscillator within quantumsemiclassical model and full quantum dynamics model,in which the latter is solved analytically in squeezed state and exact diagonalization methods and acts as the exact solution of such a system.A comparison of these two models for different mass ratios between the “classical“ particle and the quantum particle is done,which gives a criterion when using the quantum-semiclassical model.     

Quantum Cosmology in Higher Derivative and Scalar-Tensor Gravity

The Bicknell theorem states that a non-linear Lagrangian can be recast in the form of a scalar-tensor theory, with a suitable potential, through a conformal transformation. In this paper, we first show that such classical equivalence remains valid at the level of the Wheeler—deWitt equation. Then, we consider a specific case, represented by a Lagrangian f(R) = R + l^–2(l²R)^4/3 whose vacuum cosmological solutions describe a non-singular Universe. The corresponding scalar-tensor theory and its cosmological solutions are written down. We find again non-singular solutions. The Wheeler—deWitt equation for this case is analyzed. The application of the Bicknell theorem leads to the interpretation of the behaviour of the scale factor in terms of the matter content, represented by the scalar field, and consequently to the energy conditions. The problem of classical and quantum regime is discussed and the classical behaviour is recovered, from the quantum solutions, near the maximum of the scale factor where the strong energy condition is satisfied.     

Aspects of Scalar Brane-World Cosmological Perturbations

We summarize an approach to deal with scalar brane-world cosmological perturbations based on Mukohyama's master equation. We also give its relation to one based on perturbing the effective Einstein's equations on the brane (involving the Weyl fluid).     

Inflationary Cosmology with Two-component Fluid and Thermodynamics

We present a simple and self-consistent cosmology with a phenomenological model of quantum creation of radiation and matter due to the decay of the cosmological constant . The decay drives a non-isentropic inflationary epoch, which exits smoothly to the radiation-dominated era, without reheating, and then evolves to the dust era. The initial vacuum for radiation and matter is a regular Minkowski vacuum. The created radiation and matter obeys standard thermodynamic laws, and the total entropy produced is consistent with the accepted value. This paper is an extension of the model with the decaying cosmological constant considered in [1]. We compare our model with the quantum field theory approach to creation of particles in curved space.     

The Quantum Regularization of Singular Black-Hole Solutions in Covariant Quantum Gravity

An excruciating issue that arises in mathematical, theoretical and astro-physics concerns the possibility of regularizing classical singular black hole solutions of general relativity by means of quantum theory. The problem is posed here in the context of a manifestly covariant approach to quantum gravity. Provided a non-vanishing quantum cosmological constant is present, here it is proved how a regular background space-time metric tensor can be obtained starting from a singular one. This is obtained by constructing suitable scale-transformed and conformal solutions for the metric tensor in which the conformal scale form factor is determined uniquely by the quantum Hamilton equations underlying the quantum gravitational field dynamics.     

Quantum Chaos and Dynamical Entropy

We review the notion of dynamical entropy by Connes, Narnhofer and Thirring and relate it to Quantum Chaos. A particle in a periodic potential is used as an example. This is worked out in the classical and the quantum mechanical framework, for the single particle as well as for the corresponding gas. The comparison does not only support the general assertion that quantum mechanics is qualitatively less chaotic than classical mechanics. More specifically, the same dynamical mechanism by which a periodic potential leads to a positive dynamical entropy of the classical particle may reduce the dynamical entropy of the quantum gas in comparison to free motion. Received: 26 June 1997 / Accepted: 13 April 1998