Quantized Cosmology II: de Sitter Space

Abstract

This work applies the formalism developed in our earlier paper to de Sitter space. After exactly solving the relevant Heisenberg equations of motion we give a detailed discussion of the subtleties associated with defining physical states and the emergence of the classical theory. This computation provides the striking result that quantum corrections to this long wavelength limit of gravity eliminate the problem of the big crunch. We also show that the same corrections lead to possibly measureable effects on the CMB radiation. Finally, for the sake of completeness we discuss the special case, $\Lambda=0$, and its relation to Minkowski space.