Alternative $k=-1$ loop quantum cosmology

Abstract

An alternative quantization of the gravitational Hamiltonian constraint of the $k=-1$ Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model is proposed by treating the Euclidean term and the Lorentzian term independently, mimicking the treatment of full loop quantum gravity. The resulting Hamiltonian constraint operator for the $k=-1$ model with a massless scalar field is successfully constructed, and is shown to have the corrected classical limit. Compared to the former quantization schemes in the literature where only the Euclidean term is quantized, the new quantum dynamics of the $k=-1$ model with a massless scalar field indicates that the classical big-bang singularity is replaced by an asymmetric quantum bounce.