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Nivaldo A. Lemos

Publications and source records attributed to Nivaldo A. Lemos.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2003

Nonholonomic Constraints and Voronec's Equations

Is it allowed, in the context of the Lagrange multiplier formalism, to assume that nonholonomic constraints are already in effect while setting up Lagrange's function? This procedure is successfully applied in a recent book [L. N. Hand and J. D Finch, {\it Analytical Mechanics}] to the problem of the rolling penny, but it does not work in general, as we show by means of a counterexample. It turns out that in many cases the use of nonholonomic constraints in the process of construction of the Lagrangian is allowed, but the correct equations of motion are the little known Voronec's equations.

physics.ed-ph↗
arXiv1999

Wormholes, Classical Limit and Dynamical Vacuum in Quantum Cosmology

First a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe filled with dust and a conformally invariant scalar field is quantized. For the closed model we find a discrete set of wormhole quantum states. In the case of flat spacelike sections we find states with classical behaviour at small values of the scale factor and quantum behaviour for large values of the scale factor. Next we study a FRW model with a conformally invariant scalar field and a nonvanishing cosmological constant dynamically introduced by regarding the vacuum as a perfect fluid. The ensuing Wheeler-DeWitt equation turns out to be a bona fide Schrodinger equation, and we find that there are realizable states with a definite value of the cosmological constant. Once again we find finite-norm solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation with definite values of the cosmological constant that represent wormholes, suggesting that in quantum cosmological models with a simple matter content wormhole states are a common occurrence.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1998

Quantum Cosmology With Conformally Invariant Scalar Field

This is in fact an Erratum to the paper published in Physics Letters A221 (1996) 359. The reduced-phase-space discussion remains essentially valid in spite of the fact that many equations are changed. However, the analysis based on the Wheeler-DeWitt equation should be very different from the one given in the paper, which must be disregarded.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1998

Dynamical Vacuum in Quantum Cosmology

By regarding the vacuum as a perfect fluid with equation of state p=-rho, de Sitter's cosmological model is quantized. Our treatment differs from previous ones in that it endows the vacuum with dynamical degrees of freedom. Instead of being postulated from the start, the cosmological constant arises from the degrees of freedom of the vacuum regarded as a dynamical entity, and a time variable can be naturally introduced. Taking the scale factor as the sole degree of freedom of the gravitational field, stationary and wave-packet solutions to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation are found. It turns out that states of the Universe with a definite value of the cosmological constant do not exist. For the wave packets investigated, quantum effects are noticeable only for small values of the scale factor, a classical regime being attained at asymptotically large times.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1996

Reply to "A Comment on Singularities in Quantum Cosmology"

We argue that the reasonings that underlie a recent comment by Gotay and Demaret [1, gr-qc/9605025] are defective. We maintain that, contrary to what they assert, our previous papers [2,3,4] are correct and indeed disprove their conjecture that quantum cosmological singularities are predetermined on the classical level by the choice of time.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1995

Radiation-Dominated Quantum Friedmann Models

Radiation-filled Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes are quantized according to the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism in the conformal-time gauge. Unlike previous treatments of this problem, here both closed and open models are studied, only square-integrable wave functions are allowed, and the boundary conditions to ensure self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian operator are consistent with the space of admissible wave functions. It turns out that the tunneling boundary condition on the universal wave function is in conflict with self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian. The evolution of wave packets obeying different boundary conditions is studied and it is generally proven that all models are nonsingular. Given an initial condition on the probability density under which the classical regime prevails, it is found that a closed universe is certain to have an infinite radius, a density parameter $Ω= 1$ becoming a prediction of the theory. Quantum stationary geometries are shown to exist for the closed universe model, but oscillating coherent states are forbidden by the boundary conditions that enforce self-adjointness of the Hamiltonian operator.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1995

Singularities in a Scalar Field Quantum Cosmology

The quantum theory of a spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe with a massless scalar field as source is further investigated. The classical model is singular, and in the framework of the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner canonical quantization formalism a discussion is made of the cosmic evolution, particularly of the quantum gravitational collapse problem. It is shown that in a matter-time gauge such that time is identified with the scalar field the classical model is singular either at $t=-\infty$ or at $t=+\infty$, but the quantum model is nonsingular. The latter behavior disproves a conjecture according to which quantum cosmological singularities are predetermined on the classical level by the choice of time.

gr-qc↗