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arXiv · 1209.5757

The Wave Function of Quantum de Sitter

Abstract

We consider quantum general relativity in three dimensions with a positive cosmological constant. The Hartle-Hawking wave function is computed as a function of metric data at asymptotic future infinity. The analytic continuation from Euclidean Anti-de Sitter space provides a natural integration contour in the space of metrics, allowing us -- with certain assumptions -- to compute the wave function exactly, including both perturbative and non-perturbative effects. The resulting wave function is a non-normalizable function of the conformal structure of future infinity which is infinitely peaked at geometries where I^+ becomes infinitely inhomogeneous. We interpret this as a non-perturbative instability of de Sitter space in three dimensional Einstein gravity.

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Alejandra Castro, Alexander Maloney. 2012-09-25. The Wave Function of Quantum de Sitter. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep11(2012)096

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