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arXiv:2212.06963

Covariant phase space quantization of cosmological models

Weixuan Hu

Published Dec 14, 2022• 0 citations
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Abstract

Covariant phase space quantization attempts to quantize the full space of classical solutions, leading to a quantum theory in which the usual time coordinate is missing. In this paper we explore how the time evolution of the quantum states of this system is restored. We compare covariant phase space methods for a nonrelativistic system (the harmonic oscillator) and three relativistic quantum cosmologies. We find that for the nonrelativistic case the preferred time coordinate emerges in a phase factor when one transforms among certain representations, giving exactly the phase that appears when the time evolution operator acts on the stationary states in the usual quantization method. For the relativistic cases, on the other hand, this phase factor is no longer present, and covariance appears to be restored. These results are consistent with other quantization methods for these models.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2212.06963

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Covariant phase space quantization attempts to quantize the full space of classical solutions, leading to a quantum theory in which the usual time coordinate is missing. In this paper we explore how the time evolution of the quantum states of this system is restored. We compare covariant phase space methods for a nonrelativistic system (the harmonic oscillator) and three relativistic quantum cosmologies. We find that for the nonrelativistic case the preferred time coordinate emerges in a phase factor when one transforms among certain representations, giving exactly the phase that appears when the time evolution operator acts on the stationary states in the usual quantization method. For the relativistic cases, on the other hand, this phase factor is no longer present, and covariance appears to be restored. These results are consistent with other quantization methods for these models.
The quasi-Heisenberg picture of minisuperspace model is considered. The The quasi-Heisenberg picture of minisuperspace model is considered. The suggested scheme consists in quantizing of the equation of motion and interprets all observables including the Universe scale factor as the time-dependent (quasi-Heisenbeg) operators acting in the space of solutions of the Wheeler--DeWitt equation. The Klein-Gordon normalization of the wave function and corresponding to it quantization rules for the equation of motion allow a time-evolution of the mean values of operators even under constraint H=0 on the physical states of Universe. Besides, the constraint H=0 appears as the relation connecting initial values of the quasi-Heisenbeg operators at t=0t=0t=0. A stage of the inflation is considered numerically in the framework of the Wigner--Weyl phase-space formalism. For an inflationary model of the ``chaotic inflation'' type it is found that a dispersion of the Universe scale factor grows during inflation, and thus, does not vanish at the inflation end. It was found also, that the ``by hand'' introduced dependence of the cosmological constant from the scale factor in the model with a massless scalar field leads to the decrease of dispersion of the Universe scale factor. The measurement and interpretation problems arising in the framework of our approach are considered, as well.
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A quantum mechanical representation suitable for studying the time evolution of quantum densities in phase space is proposed and examined in detail. This representation on ℒ2 (2) phase space is based on definitions of the operators P̂ and Q̂ in phase space that satisfy various correspondences for the Liouville equation in classical and quantum phase space, as well as quantum position and momentum ℒ2 (1) spaces. The definitions presented here, P̂=p/2−iℏ∂/∂q and Q̂=q/2+iℏ∂/∂p, are related to definitions that have been recently proposed [J. Chem. Phys. 93, 8862 (1990)]. The resulting quantum phase space representation shares many of the mathematical properties of usual representations in coordinate and momentum spaces. Within this representation, time evolution equations for complex-valued functions (wave functions) and their square magnitudes (distribution functions) are derived, and it is shown that the coordinate and momentum space time evolution equations can be recovered by a simple Fourier projection. The phase space quantum probability conservation equation obtained is a good illustration of the quantization rule that requires one to replace the classical Poisson bracket between the Hamiltonian and the probability density with the quantum commutator between the corresponding operators. The possible classical analogs to quantum probabilities densities are also considered and some of the present results are illustrated for the dynamics of the coherent state.
We present a time evolution equation that provides a novel basis for the treatment of quantum systems in phase space and for the investigation of the quantum-classical correspondence. Through the use of a generalized Husimi transform, we obtain a phase space representation of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation directly from the coordinate representation. Such an equation governs the time evolution of densities such as the Husimi density entirely in phase space, without recourse to a coordinate or momentum representation. As an application of the phase-space Schrödinger equation, we compute the eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator in phase space, relate these to the Husimi transform of coordinate representation eigenstates, and investigate the coherent state, its time evolution, and classical limit (ℏ→0) for the probability density generated by this state. Finally, we discuss our results as they relate to the quantum-classical correspondence, and quasiclassical trajectory simulations of quantum dynamics.
Despite its importance in general relativity, a quantum notion of general covariance has not yet been established in quantum gravity and cosmology, where, given the a priori absence of coordinates, it is necessary to replace classical frames with dynamical quantum reference systems. As such, quantum general covariance bears on the ability to consistently switch between the descriptions of the same physics relative to arbitrary choices of quantum reference system. Recently, a systematic approach for such switches has been developed. It links the descriptions relative to different choices of quantum reference system, identified as the correspondingly reduced quantum theories, via the reference-system-neutral Dirac quantization, in analogy to coordinate changes on a manifold. In this work, we apply this method to a simple cosmological model to demonstrate how to consistently switch between different internal time choices in quantum cosmology. We substantiate the argument that the conjunction of Dirac and reduced quantized versions of the theory defines a complete relational quantum theory that not only admits a quantum general covariance, but, we argue, also suggests a new perspective on the ‘wave function of the universe’. It assumes the role of a perspective-neutral global state, without immediate physical interpretation that, however, encodes all the descriptions of the universe relative to all possible choices of reference system at once and constitutes the crucial link between these internal perspectives. While, for simplicity, we use the Wheeler-DeWitt formulation, the method and arguments might be also adaptable to loop quantum cosmology.