Quantum descriptions of singularities leading to pair creationA class of cosmological models is analyzed which provide a mathematically convenient (but idealized) description of a cosmological singularity that develops into a pair creation epoch and terminates in an adiabatic expansion with redshifting particle energies. This class of models was obtained by Gowdy (1971, 1974) as a set of exact solutions of the classical empty space Einstein equations describing inhomogeneous universes populated only by gravitational waves. It is shown that these models can be used to exhibit simplified models of quantized gravitational fields, and that a quantum description can be given arbitrarily near a cosmological singularity. Graviton pair creation occurs, and can be seen to convert anisotropic expansion rates into the energy of graviton pairs.
Document ID
19750037779
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Misner, C. W. (Maryland, University College Park, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1974
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Confrontation of cosmological theories with observational data; Symposium