Foundations Of Quantum Cosmology

This is the first book to lay the physical foundations of quantum cosmology, complete with an introduction to space-time physics, quantum theory, and the main approaches to quantum gravity. It is an essential guide for researchers in quantum gravity and astrophysicists interested in fundamental aspects of cosmology.

This book lays the foundations of quantum cosmology, developing classical cosmology and quantum physics based on general principles without requiring detailed background knowledge in these fields. Throughout the book, the discussion focuses on the physical meaning of space-time--classical or quantum--and on the important requirement of general covariance. Various classical models are derived from this condition and applied to basic questions in cosmology and the physics of black holes. The book's introduction of relevant ingredients from quantum physics makes it possible to derive fundamental features of quantum cosmology, to present the main approaches to quantum gravity, including string theory and causal dynamical triangulations, and to outline some of their cosmological implications. It is an essential guide for researchers in quantum gravity and astrophysicists interested in fundamental aspects of cosmology.

Exploring how the subtleties of quantum coherence can be consistently incorporated into Einstein's theory of gravitation, this book is ideal for researchers interested in the foundations of relativity and quantum physics. The book examines those properties of coherent gravitating systems that are most closely connected to experimental observations. Examples of consistent co-gravitating quantum systems whose overall effects upon the geometry are independent of the coherence state of each constituent are provided, and the properties of the trapping regions of non-singular black objects, black holes and a dynamic de Sitter cosmology are discussed analytically, numerically and diagrammatically. The extensive use of diagrams to summarise the results of the mathematics enables readers to bypass the need for a detailed understanding of the steps involved. Assuming some knowledge of quantum physics and relativity, the book provides text boxes featuring supplementary information for readers particularly interested in the philosophy and foundations of the physics.

Inflationary cosmology has been developed over the last twenty years to remedy serious shortcomings in the standard hot big bang model of the universe. This textbook, first published in 2005, explains the basis of modern cosmology and shows where the theoretical results come from. The book is divided into two parts; the first deals with the homogeneous and isotropic model of the Universe, the second part discusses how inhomogeneities can explain its structure. Established material such as the inflation and quantum cosmological perturbation are presented in great detail, however the reader is brought to the frontiers of current cosmological research by the discussion of more speculative ideas. An ideal textbook for both advanced students of physics and astrophysics, all of the necessary background material is included in every chapter and no prior knowledge of general relativity and quantum field theory is assumed.

Consequences of quantum gravity on grander scales are expected to be enormous: only such a theory can show how black holes really behave and where our universe came from. Applications of loop quantum gravity to cosmology have especially by now shed much light on cosmic evolution of a universe in a fundamental, microscopic description. Modern techniques are explained in this book which demonstrate how the universe could have come from a non-singular phase before the big bang, how equations for the evolution of structure can be derived, but also what fundamental limitations remain to our knowledge of the universe before the big bang. The following topics will be covered in this book: Hamiltonian cosmology: a general basic treatment of isotropy, perturbations and their role for observations; useful in general cosmology. Effective equations: an efficient way to evaluate equations of quantum gravity, which is also useful in other areas of physics where quantum theory is involved. Loop quantization: a new formalism for the atomic picture of space-time; usually presented at a sophisticated mathematical level, but evaluated here from an intuitive physical side. The book will start with physical motivations, rather than mathematical developments which is more common in other expositions of this field. All the required mathematical methods will be presented, but will not distract the reader from seeing the underlying physics. Simple but representative models will be presented first to show the basic features, which are then used to work upwards to a general description of quantum gravity and its applications in cosmology. This will make the book accessible to a more general physics readership.

A collection of essays discussing the philosophy and foundations of quantum gravity. Written by leading philosophers and physicists in the field, chapters cover the important conceptual questions in the search for a quantum theory of gravity, and the current state of understanding among philosophers and physicists.

Encapsulates the latest debates on this topic, giving researchers and graduate students an up-to-date view of the field.

”I re-experience once again the stimulating atmosphere of each of the ISQMs: There were theoretical discussions in diverse frontier areas of physics as well as descriptions of beautiful new (or planned) experiments and technologies. From each of the Symposia I always came away with the exciting feeling of how wonderful physics is and how lucky it is to be a physicist in this era.”Chen Ning YangThis volume is selected from the First through Fourth International Symposia on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics. The International Symposia on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology (ISQMs) provide a unique interdisciplinary forum where distinguished theorists and experimentalists of diverse fields of research gather to discuss basic problems in quantum mechanics in the light of new technology. This volume collects 51 papers selected from over 200 papers by many distinguished scientists. It includes articles by C N Yang, J A Wheeler, Y Nambu, L Esaki and M P A Fisher, to name just a few, and contains topics ranging from quantum measurements to quantum cosmology.