The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations
We consider the superposition of two semiclassical solutions of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation for a de Sitter universe, describing a quantized scalar vacuum propagating in a universe that is contracting in one case and expanding in the other, each identifying the opposite cosmological arrow...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Universe |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/4/6/71 |
| _version_ | 1828740808083243008 |
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| author | Marcello Rotondo Yasusada Nambu |
| author_facet | Marcello Rotondo Yasusada Nambu |
| author_sort | Marcello Rotondo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We consider the superposition of two semiclassical solutions of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation for a de Sitter universe, describing a quantized scalar vacuum propagating in a universe that is contracting in one case and expanding in the other, each identifying the opposite cosmological arrow of time. We discuss the suppression of the interference terms between the two arrows of time due to environment-induced decoherence caused by modes of the scalar vacuum crossing the Hubble horizon. Furthermore, we quantify the effect of the interference on the expectation value of the observable field mode correlations, with respect to an observer that we identify with the spatial geometry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:47:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-952f1341f7cd4b2cacb4000ae00880e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:47:59Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-952f1341f7cd4b2cacb4000ae00880e62022-12-22T03:09:58ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972018-06-01467110.3390/universe4060071universe4060071The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum FluctuationsMarcello Rotondo0Yasusada Nambu1Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, JapanDepartment of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, JapanWe consider the superposition of two semiclassical solutions of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation for a de Sitter universe, describing a quantized scalar vacuum propagating in a universe that is contracting in one case and expanding in the other, each identifying the opposite cosmological arrow of time. We discuss the suppression of the interference terms between the two arrows of time due to environment-induced decoherence caused by modes of the scalar vacuum crossing the Hubble horizon. Furthermore, we quantify the effect of the interference on the expectation value of the observable field mode correlations, with respect to an observer that we identify with the spatial geometry.http://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/4/6/71quantum cosmologyWheeler–DeWitt equationde Sitter universequantum decoherencearrow of time |
| spellingShingle | Marcello Rotondo Yasusada Nambu The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations Universe quantum cosmology Wheeler–DeWitt equation de Sitter universe quantum decoherence arrow of time |
| title | The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations |
| title_full | The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations |
| title_fullStr | The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations |
| title_short | The Decoherence and Interference of Cosmological Arrows of Time for a de Sitter Universe with Quantum Fluctuations |
| title_sort | decoherence and interference of cosmological arrows of time for a de sitter universe with quantum fluctuations |
| topic | quantum cosmology Wheeler–DeWitt equation de Sitter universe quantum decoherence arrow of time |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/4/6/71 |
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