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Conceptual Issues in Quantum Cosmology

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Towards Quantum Gravity

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 541))

Abstract

I give a review of the conceptual issues that arise in theories of quantum cosmology. I start by emphasising some features of ordinary quantum theory that also play a crucial role in understanding quantum cosmology. I then give motivations why spacetime cannot be treated classically at the most fundamental level. Two important issues in quantum cosmology - the problem of time and the role of boundary conditions - are discussed at some length. Finally, I discuss how classical spacetime can be recovered as an approximate notion. This involves the application of a semiclassical approximation and the process of decoherence. The latter is applied to both global degrees of freedom and primordial fluctuations in an inflationary Universe.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fakultät für Physik, Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 3, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Claus Kiefer

  2. Institute for Advanced Study Berlin, Wallotstr. 19, D-14193, Berlin, Germany

    Claus Kiefer

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  1. Claus Kiefer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Wrocław, Pl.Maxa Borna 9, 50-204, Wrocław, Poland

    Jerzy Kowalski-Glikman

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kiefer, C. (2000). Conceptual Issues in Quantum Cosmology. In: Kowalski-Glikman, J. (eds) Towards Quantum Gravity. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 541. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46634-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46634-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-66910-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46634-5

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