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General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, gr-qc,High Energy Physics - Theory, hep-th
Abstract:
The approach of a quantum state to a cosmological singularity is studied
through the evolution of its moments in a simple version of a Bianchi I model.
In spite of the simplicity, the model exhibits several instructive and
unexpected features of the moments. They are investigated here both
analytically and numerically in an approximation in which anisotropy is assumed
to vary slowly, while numerical methods are also used to analyze the case of a
rapidly evolving anisotropy. Physical conclusions are drawn mainly regarding
two questions. First, quantum uncertainty of anisotropies does not necessarily
eliminate the existence of isotropic solutions, with potential implications for
the interpretation of minisuperspace truncations as well as structure-formation
scenarios in the early universe. Secondly, back-reaction of moments on basic
expectation values is found to delay the approach to the classical singularity.
