Narrow Results

The conditions for which the no boundary proposal may have a classical realization of a continuous change of signature, are investigated for a cosmological model described by FRW metric coupled with a self-interacting scalar field, having a noncommutative phase space of dynamical variables. The model is then quantized and a good correspondence is shown between the classical and quantum cosmology indicating that the noncommutativity does not destruct the classical-quantum correspondence. It is also shown that the quantum cosmology supports a signature transition where the bare cosmological constant takes a vast continuous spectrum of negative values. The bounds of bare cosmological constant are limited by the values of noncommutative parameters. Moreover, it turns out that the physical parameters are constrained by the noncommutativity parameters.

The significant matter for the construction of the so-called no-boundary proposal is the assumption of signature transition, which has been a way to deal with the problem of initial conditions of the universe. On the other hand, results of Loop Quantum Gravity indicate that the signature change is related to the discrete nature of space at the Planck scale. Motivated by possibility of non-Archimedean and/or noncommutative structure of space–time at the Planck scale, in this work we consider the classical, p-adic and (spatial) noncommutative form of a cosmological model with Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) metric coupled with a self-interacting scalar field.

We calculate the Casimir stress on a spherical shell in a de Sitter background corresponding to different metric signatures and cosmological constants, for massless scalar fields that satisfy Dirichlet boundary conditions on the shell. We show that a contribution appears due to signature change, which leads to late-time expansion of the bubbles in this background.

We revisit the issue of continuous signature transition from Euclidean to Lorentzian metrics in a cosmological model described by Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) metric minimally coupled with a self-interacting massive scalar field. Then, using a noncommutative (NC) phase space of dynamical variables deformed by generalized uncertainty principle (GUP), we show that the signature transition occurs even for a model described by the FRW metric minimally coupled with a free massless scalar field accompanied by a cosmological constant. This indicates that the continuous signature transition might have been easily occurred at early universe just by a free massless scalar field, a cosmological constant and a NC phase space deformed by GUP, without resorting to a massive scalar field having an ad hoc complicate potential. We also study the quantum cosmology of the model and obtain a solution of Wheeler–DeWitt (WD) equation which shows a good correspondence with the classical path.

Recent calculations in loop quantum cosmology suggest that a transition from a Lorentzian to a Euclidean spacetime might take place in the very early universe. The transition point leads to a state of silence, characterized by a vanishing speed of light. This behavior can be interpreted as a decoupling of different space points, similar to the one characterizing the BKL phase. In this study, we address the issue of imposing initial conditions for the cosmological perturbations at the transition point between the Lorentzian and Euclidean phases. Motivated by the decoupling of space points, initial conditions characterized by a lack of correlations are investigated. We show that the “white noise” gains some support from analysis of the vacuum state in the deep Euclidean regime. Furthermore, the possibility of imposing the silent initial conditions at the trans-Planckian surface, characterized by a vanishing speed for the propagation of modes with wavelengths of the order of the Planck length, is studied. Such initial conditions might result from the loop deformations of the Poincaré algebra. The conversion of the silent initial power spectrum to a scale-invariant one is also examined.

We show that different topologies of a space-time manifold and different signatures of its metric can be encompassed into a single Lagrangian formalism, provided one adopts the first-order (Palatini) formulation and relies on nonlinear Lagrangians, that were earlier shown to produce, in the generic case, universality of Einstein field equations and of Komar's energy-momentum complex as well. An example in Relativistic Cosmology is provided.

We review some recent results from the causal dynamical triangulation (CDT) approach to quantum gravity. We review recent observations of dimensional reduction at a number of previously undetermined points in the parameter space of CDT, and discuss their possible relevance to the asymptotic safety scenario. We also present an updated phase diagram of CDT, discussing properties of a newly discovered phase and its possible relation to a signature change of the metric.