Bohmian quantum cosmology from the Wheeler-DeWitt equation

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Authors: Spyros Basilakos, Gerasimos Kouniatalis, Emmanuel N. Saridakis, Charalampos Tzerefos
Cited by: 2
References: 32

Abstract

We construct a Bohmian quantum cosmological model for a spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe filled with a single scalar field whose potential provides a unified description of cold dark matter and dark energy at the background level. Starting from the Einstein-Hilbert action supplemented by a scalar field, we derive the minisuperspace Lagrangian and the associated canonical Hamiltonian formulation. By means of a nontrivial canonical transformation, the minisuperspace dynamics is mapped into that of a two-dimensional hyperbolic oscillator with a fixed frequency ratio, rendering the Wheeler-DeWitt equation exactly solvable by separation of variables. The resulting Wheeler-DeWitt solutions are expressed in terms of parabolic cylinder functions and are parametrised by a continuous separation constant, reflecting the constrained nature of the theory and the absence of a standard Schrödinger time parameter. Adopting the de Broglie-Bohm formulation, we derive deterministic guidance equations in minisuperspace and construct a well-defined Bohmian Hubble parameter directly in terms of the pilot-wave phase. Finally, we present a Wheeler-DeWitt-derived toy wave function for which the Bohmian trajectories and the associated cosmological expansion history can be obtained analytically, reproducing the late-time ΛCDM behaviour while exhibiting quantum modifications at earlier epochs.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Cosmology and Gravitation Theories Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories Quantum Mechanics and Applications

Publication details

Journal / source
Physics Letters B
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
875
Pages
140339–140339
Publication date
7 March 2026
Language
EN