Quantum fluctuations in open pre-big bang cosmology

The European Physical Journal C, 2020

Recently it has been argued that a correct reading of the quantum fluctuations of the vacuum could lead to a solution to the cosmological constant problem. In this work we critically examine such a proposal, finding it questionable due to conceptual and self-consistency problems, as well as issues with the actual calculations. We conclude that the proposal is inadequate as a solution to the cosmological constant problem.

Physical Review D, 1995

When considering perturbations in an open (Ω 0 < 1) universe, cosmologists retain only sub-curvature modes (defined as eigenfunctions of the Laplacian whose eigenvalue is less than -1 in units of the curvature scale, in contrast with the super-curvature modes whose eigenvalue is between -1 and 0). Mathematicians have known for almost half a century that all modes must be included to generate the most general homogeneous Gaussian random field, despite the fact that any square integrable function can be generated using only the sub-curvature modes. The former mathematical object, not the latter, is the relevant one for physical applications. The mathematics is here explained in a language accessible to physicists. Then it is pointed out that if the perturbations originate as a vacuum fluctuation of a scalar field there will be no super-curvature modes in nature. Finally the effect on the cmb of any super-curvature contribution is considered, which generalizes to Ω 0 < 1 the analysis given by Grishchuk and Zeldovich in 1978. A formula is given, which is used to estimate the effect. In contrast with the case Ω 0 = 1, the effect contributes to all multipoles, not just to the quadrupole. It is important to find out whether it has the same l dependence as the data, by evaluating the formula numerically.

Physical Review D, 2006

An improved Hamiltonian constraint operator is introduced in loop quantum cosmology. Quantum dynamics of the spatially flat, isotropic model with a massless scalar field is then studied in detail using analytical and numerical methods. The scalar field continues to serve as `emergent time', the big bang is again replaced by a quantum bounce, and quantum evolution remains deterministic across the deep Planck regime. However, while with the Hamiltonian constraint used so far in loop quantum cosmology the quantum bounce can occur even at low matter densities, with the new Hamiltonian constraint it occurs only at a Planck-scale density. Thus, the new quantum dynamics retains the attractive features of current evolutions in loop quantum cosmology but, at the same time, cures their main weakness.

Fluctuations and Noise in Photonics and Quantum Optics, 2003

We give a short update of our research program on nonequilibrium statistical field theory applied to quantum processes in the early universe and black holes, as well as the development of stochastic gravity theory as an extension of semiclassical gravity and an intermediary in the 'bottom-up' approach to quantum gravity.

The Origin of Structure in the Universe, 1993

We address two basic issues in the theory of galaxy formation from fluctuations of quantum fields: 1) the nature and origin of noise and fluctuations and 2) the conditions for using a classical stochastic equation for their description. On the first issue, we derive the influence functional for a λφ 4 field in a zero-temperature bath in de Sitter universe and obtain the correlator for the colored noises of vacuum fluctuations. This exemplifies a new mechanism we propose for colored noise generation which can act as seeds for galaxy formation with non-Gaussian distributions. For the second issue, we present a (functional) master equation for the inflaton field in de Sitter universe. By examining the form of the noise kernel we study the decoherence of the long-wavelength sector and the conditions for it to behave classically.

In this work, our prime focus is to study the one to one correspondence between the conduction phenomena in electrical wires with impurity and the scattering events responsible for particle production during stochastic inflation and reheating implemented under a closed quantum mechanical system in early universe cosmology. In this connection, we also present a derivation of fourth order corrected version of the Fokker Planck equation and its analytical solution for studying the dynamical features of the particle creation events in the stochastic inflation and reheating stage of the universe. It is explicitly shown from our computation that quantum corrected Fokker Planck equation describe the particle creation phenomena better for Dirac delta type of scatterer. In this connection, we additionally discuss Itô , Stratonovich prescription and the explicit role of finite temperature effective potential for solving the probability distribution profile. Furthermore, we extend our discussion to describe the quantum description of randomness involved in the dynamics. We also present a computation to derive the expression for the measure of the stochastic non-linearity arising in the stochastic inflation and reheating epoch of the universe, often described by Lyapunov Exponent. Apart from that, we quantify the quantum chaos arising in a closed system by a more strong measure, commonly known as Spectral Form Factor using the principles of Random Matrix Theory (RMT). Additionally, we discuss the role of out of time order correlation (OTOC) function to describe quantum chaos in the present non-equilibrium field theoretic setup. Finally, for completeness, we also provide a bound on the measure of quantum chaos arising due to the presence of stochastic non-linear dynamical interactions into the closed quantum system of the early universe in a completely model-independent way.

Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2016

A particularly attractive feature of inflation is that quantum fluctuations in the inflaton field may have seeded inhomogeneities in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the formation of large-scale structure. In this paper, we demonstrate that a scalar field with zero active mass, i.e., with an equation of state ρ + 3p = 0, where ρ and p are its energy density and pressure, respectively, could also have produced an essentially scale-free fluctuation spectrum, though without inflation. This alternative mechanism is based on the Hollands-Wald concept of a minimum wavelength for the emergence of quantum fluctuations into the semi-classical universe. A cosmology with zero active mass does not have a horizon problem, so it does not need inflation to solve this particular (non) issue. In this picture, the 1 • − 10 • fluctuations in the CMB correspond almost exactly to the Planck length at the Planck time, firmly supporting the view that CMB observations may already be probing trans-Planckian physics.

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 2002

We argue that it is a fluctuational underpinning of the Quantum vacuum which on the one hand gives a stochastic character to the conservation laws, and on the other is required for explaining the recently observed acceleration of the universe. This also provides us with the arrow of time, in a consistent cosmology.

Physical Review D, 2013

Cosmological perturbations are generally described by quantum fields on (curved but) classical space-times. While this strategy has a large domain of validity, it can not be justified in the quantum gravity era where curvature and matter densities are of Planck scale. Using techniques from loop quantum gravity, the standard theory of cosmological perturbations is extended to overcome this limitation. The new framework sharpens conceptual issues by distinguishing between the true and apparent trans-Planckian difficulties and provides sufficient conditions under which the true difficulties can be overcome within a quantum gravity theory. In a companion paper, this framework is applied to the standard inflationary model, with interesting implications to theory as well as observations.

Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, 2016

There is a widespread belief that the classical small inhomogeneities which gave rise to all structures in the Universe through gravitational instability originated from primordial quantum cosmological fluctuations. However, this transition from quantum to classical fluctuations is plagued with important conceptual issues, most of them related to the application of standard quantum theory to the Universe as a whole. In this paper, we show how these issues can easily be overcome in the framework of the de Broglie-Bohm quantum theory. This theory is an alternative to standard quantum theory that provides an objective description of physical reality, where rather ambiguous notions of measurement or observer play no fundamental role, and which can hence be applied to the Universe as a whole. In addition, it allows for a simple and unambiguous characterization of the classical limit.