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Loop Quantum Cosmology

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Springer Handbook of Spacetime

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Abstract

This Chapter provides an up to date, pedagogical review of some of the most relevant advances in loop quantum cosmology. We review the quantization of homogeneous cosmological models, their singularity resolution and the formulation of effective equations that incorporate the main quantum corrections to the dynamics. We also summarize the theory of quantized metric perturbations propagating in those quantum backgrounds. Finally, we describe how this framework can be applied to obtain a self-consistent extension of the inflationary scenario to incorporate quantum aspects of gravity, and to explore possible phenomenological consequences.

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Abbreviations

ADM:

Arnowitt, Deser, Misner

BD:

Bunch–Davies

BKL:

Belinski, Khalatnikov, Lifshitz

CMB:

cosmic microwave background

FLRW:

Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker

FRW:

Friedmann–Robertson–Walker

GR:

general relativity

GUT:

grand unification theory

IR:

infrared

LQC:

loop quantum cosmology

LQG:

loop quantum gravity

QFT:

quantum field theory

UV:

ultraviolet

WDW:

Wheeler–De Witt

WMAP:

Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe

ΛCDM:

Lambda-cold dark matter

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, CB3 0WA, Cambridge, UK

    Ivan Agullo

  2. Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Tower Dr., LA 70803-4001, Baton Rouge, USA

    Ivan Agullo

  3. Centro de Ciencias Matematicas, Quantum Gravity Group, UNAM Campus Morelia, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), A. Postal 61-3, 58089, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico

    Alejandro Corichi

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  1. Ivan Agullo
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Correspondence to Ivan Agullo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, PA, USA

    Abhay Ashtekar

  2. Institute for Foundational Studies Hermann Minkowski, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Vesselin Petkov

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Agullo, I., Corichi, A. (2014). Loop Quantum Cosmology. In: Ashtekar, A., Petkov, V. (eds) Springer Handbook of Spacetime. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41992-8_39

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