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Time asymmetries in quantum cosmology and the searching for boundary conditions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation

Mario Castagnino·Gabriel Catren·Rafael Ferraro
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Abstract

The paper addresses the quantization of minisuperspace cosmological models by studying a possible solution to the problem of time and time asymmetries in quantum cosmology. Since General Relativity does not have a privileged time variable of the newtonian type, it is necessary, in order to have a dynamical evolution, to select a physical clock. This choice yields, in the proposed approach, to the breaking of the so called clock-reversal invariance of the theory which is clearly distinguished from the well known motion-reversal invariance of both classical and quantum mechanics. In the light of this new perspective, the problem of imposing proper boundary conditions on the space of solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation is reformulated. The symmetry-breaking formalism of previous papers is analyzed and a clarification of it is proposed in order to satisfy the requirements of the new interpretation.

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Mario Castagnino, Gabriel Catren, Rafael Ferraro. 2002-08-26. Time asymmetries in quantum cosmology and the searching for boundary conditions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation. https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381%2F19%2F18%2F308

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