https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-08569-5
Regular Article – Theoretical Physics
How round is the quantum de Sitter universe?
Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Received:
12
June
2020
Accepted:
16
October
2020
Published online:
27
October
2020
We investigate the quantum Ricci curvature, which was introduced in earlier work, in full, four-dimensional quantum gravity, formulated nonperturbatively in terms of Causal Dynamical Triangulations (CDT). A key finding of the CDT approach is the emergence of a universe of de Sitter-type, as evidenced by the successful matching of Monte Carlo measurements of the quantum dynamics of the global scale factor with a semiclassical minisuperspace model. An important question is whether the quantum universe exhibits semiclassicality also with regard to its more local geometric properties. Using the new quantum curvature observable, we examine whether the (quasi-)local properties of the quantum geometry resemble those of a constantly curved space. We find evidence that on sufficiently large scales the curvature behaviour is compatible with that of a four-sphere, thus strengthening the interpretation of the dynamically generated quantum universe in terms of a de Sitter space.
© The Author(s) 2020
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