Quantum Singularities

João Paulo Pitelli

UFABC
III ONTC
Brasília, November 2013

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1. Classical Singularities
1.1. Definition

X A classical singularity is indicated by incomplete geodesics

and/or incomplete curves of bounded acceleration.
X Abrupt ending of a classical particle path.
X Extra information at the singularity?

1.2. Examples

48M 2
X Black Hole: K = r6 - (Event Horizon)

X Cosmic String: Ttt = Tzz = (1−α)

4αρ δ(ρ) - (Naked Singularity)
- Cosmic censorship hypotesis
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1.3. Connection with quantum theory

X Because the spacetime is by definition differentiable, the

points representing singularities must be excluded from our
manifold.
X The geodesic incompleteness leads to the lack of predictabil-
ity of the future of a classical test particle which reaches the
singularity.
X It is this lack of predictability that links classical and quan-
tum singularity.

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2. Quantum Singularities
2.1. Definition - G. Horowitz and D. Marolf, Phys. Rev. D (1995)

X A static spacetime is said to be quantum-mechanically non-

singular if the evolution of a wave packet is uniquely deter-
mined by the initial wave packet.
X No arbitrary boundary conditions are necessary at the sin-
gular point.
X It is possible to predict the entire evolution of the wave
packet with no extra information - not predicted by the
theory.

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2.2. Mathematical Framework

X The wave operator for a massive scalar field in a spacetime

with a timelike Killing vector ξ µ is
∂ 2Ψ
2 = −AΨ,
∂t
where A = −V Di(V Di) + V 2M 2 and V = −ξµξ µ, and Di
the spatial covariant derivative on a static slice Σ.
X The spatial portion of the wave operator A is Hermitian in
D(A) = C0∞(Σ) and has at least one self-adjoint extension
(represented by a boundary condition).
X Stone’s theorem: Evolution ⇔ Self-adjoint.

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2.3. Connection with self-adjointness

X If A has only on self-adjoint extension A, the evolution of

the wave packet is uniquely determined by the initial wave
packet √
Ψ(t, x) = e−i AtΨ(0, x).
Quantum-mechanically nonsingular!!!
X If A has an infinite number of self-adjoint extensions Aα
parametrized by α, then each evolution
√
Ψα(t, x) = e−i AαtΨ(0, x)
is possible. We need an extra information - boundary con-
dition.
Quantum-mechanically singular!!!
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2.4. Criterion for self-adjoint extension

X Solve the equation A∗ψ ± iψ = 0 and count the number of

linear independent solutions in L2.
– If both equations do not have any linear independent so-
lution, then A has only one self-adjoint extension (essen-
tially self-adjoint).
– If the equations have n (n = 1, 2) linear independent
solutions, then A has an infinite number of self-adjoint
extension parametrized by a unitary n × n matrix.

2.5. Theorem

X If A = −d2/dx2 + V (x) and V (x) ≥ 4x3 2 , then A is essen-

tially self-adjoint.
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2.6. Self-adjoint extensions

X Each isometry U : Ker(A∗ − i) → Ker(A∗ + i) defines a

self-adjoint extension, where
D(AU ) = {ϕ0 + ϕ+ − U ϕ+|ϕ0 ∈ C0∞, ϕ+ ∈ Ker(A∗ + i)}

2.7. Example

X Aψ(x) = −iψ 0(x) in C0∞(0, 1), H = L2(0, 1)

Ker(A ± i) = span{e∓x} =⇒ U : e−x 7→ eiγ−1ex, γ ∈ R,
therefore ψ(x) = ϕ(x) + cex(1 − eiγ−1) ∈ D(AU ).
ψ(0) = ϕ(0) + c(1 − eiγ−1) e−1 − eiγ





=⇒ ψ(1) = ψ(0)





 ψ(1) = ϕ(0) + ce(1 − e iγ−1 ) 1−e iγ−1

=⇒ ψ(1) = eiθ ψ(0), θ ∈ R.

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3. Pratical Examples
3.1. QM Textbooks

X Hydrogen atom
2 1 ∂Ψ(~r, t)
−∇ Ψ(~r, t) − Ψ(~r, t) = i
r ∂t
Ψ(~r, t) ∈ L2 works as a boundary
(
condition.
+)
Solutions in L2
constitute a basis given by ϕn,l,m . The evolution of the



wave packet is given by

∞ n−1 l
e−iEntc
 +

|Ψi (t) = n,l,m ϕn,l,m ,

X X X 


n=1 l=0 m=−l


where
∞ n−1 l  +

|Ψi (0) = cn,l,m ϕn,l,m ,

X X X 


n=1 l=0 m=−l


Quantum-mechanically•Firstnonsingular!!!
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4. Pratical Examples
4.1. QM Textbooks

X Particle in (a, b)
∂2 ∂
− 2 Ψ(x, t) = i Ψ(x, t)
∂x ∂t
The self-adjoint extensions are parametrized by a unitary 2 × 2
matrix. Usual extensions:
X Ψ(a, t) = Ψ(b, t) = 0 (particle in a box)
X Ψ(a, t) = eiθ Ψ(b, t) (particle on a ring enclosing a magnetic
flux)
Quantum-mechanically singular!!!
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4.2. General Relativity

X Global Monopole - J.P.M. Pitelli and P. Letelier, Phys.

Rev. D )(2009)
ds2 = −dt2 + dr2 + α2r2(dθ2 + sin2 θdϕ2)
The general solution of Klein-Gordon equation is
−iωt ∞ l
C(ω, l, m)Rω,l,m(r)Ylm(θ, ϕ),
Z
Ψa = dωe
X X

l=0 m=−l
with
cos kr 1 sin kr



a 6= 0

+






Rω,0,0(r) =  r ak r





cos kr
a = 0.






r



Quantum-mechanically singular!!!
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X Spherical Spacetimes - D.A. Konkowski and T.M. Helliwell
(2010)
ds2 = −dt2 + dr2 + r2p(dθ2 + sin2 θdϕ2); p 6= 1
Quantum-mechanically singular for p < 3/2!!!
Quantum-mechanically nonsingular for p ≥ 3/2!!!

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5. Quantum Cosmology

X Action for a fluid coupled to gravity in Schutz formalism:

MP2 Z 4 √ 4 √
d x −g (R − 2Λ) + d x −gp,
Z
S=
2
where p is the pressure of the fluid, which is linked to the
density by the equation of state p = wρ.
X In a minisuperspace model with FLRW metric
dr2
 

2 2 2 2 2 2
 

ds = −N dt + a(t)  + r dΩ  ,
 

1 − kr2



the super-Hamiltonian constraint becomes

p2a pT
H=− − 6ka + 3w ≈ 0
24a a
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X pa and pT are the momenta associated with the canonical
variables a and T (degree of freedom of the fluid).
X By Dirac’s quantization: (HΨ = 0, pq → −i∂/∂q)
∂ 2Ψ 2 1−3w ∂Ψ
2 + 144ka Ψ + i24a = 0,
∂a ∂t
Schrödinger-Wheeler-DeWitt equation of the universe
X Defining the internal product
hΦ, Ψi = 0∞ a1−3w Φ∗Ψda,
Z

boundary conditions are necessary to obtain a unique evo-

lution.

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X Radiation (p = ρ/3; λ = 0, k = 0):

∂ 2Ψ ∂Ψ 0(0, t) = βΨ(0, t),

+ 24i = 0 ⇐⇒ Ψ β ∈ R.
∂a2 ∂t
– For Gaussian wave packets and β = 0, ∞:
s

hai (t) = A B + Ct2 6= 0 ∀ t

– For β 6= 0, ∞???
X General case (p = wρ):
– Inverse Square potential V (x) = λ/x2
– Boundary conditions for −1/4 ≤ λ < 3/4 =⇒ −1 ≤
w < 2/3
– Unique evolution for 2/3 ≤ w < 1
– Why???
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6. Hořava-Lifshitz Quantum Cosmology

X Action:
MP2 Z √ 
SHL = dtd xN h Kij K ij − λK 2 + R − 2Λ
3
2
− g2MP−2R2 − g3MP−2Rij Rij − g4MP−4R3
j
− g5MP−4R(Rij Rij ) − g6MP−4Rij R k Rki
−4 2 −4 i jk


−g7MP R∇ R − g8MP ∇iRjk ∇ R  ,

(6.1)
X After tedious calculations (radiation case - whithout cosmo-
logical constant):
1 ∂ 2Ψ  1 gs  ∂Ψ
 

− 2 2
+  mλωλa − gr − 2  Ψ = i .
2mλ ∂a 2 2 a ∂t
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 s

where ωλ = 2/(3λ − 1), mλ = 6(3λ − 1)

X Inverse square potential:
V (a) ∼ −2mλgs/a2.
Essentially self-adjoint if −mλgs ≥ 3/8. Only one possible
evolution! - J.P.M. Pitelli and A. Saa, Phys. Rev. D (2012)

∞
Ψ(a, t) = cnΨn(a, t),
X

n=0
where
1/2
Γ(n + 1)
 

1/4 2 2α+1
Ψn(a, t) =(4mλωλ) (mλωλa ) 4
 
 
 

Γ(α + n + 1)
 


mλωλ 2 α
× exp −

a Ln (mλωλa2)e−iEnt,
2
(6.2)
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7. Open Questions

X Classification of spacetimes healed by quantum mechanics.

X How do physical quantities depend on the choice of bound-
ary conditions?
X f (R) models.
X Anisotropic cosmological models.

Thank you!
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