Bohmian quantum cosmology from the Wheeler-DeWitt equation

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physics Letters B
Published
2026-03-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140339
Primary Topic
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Type
article
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article

Bohmian quantum cosmology from the Wheeler-DeWitt equation

Charalampos Tzerefos, Gerasimos Kouniatalis, Spyros Basilakos, Emmanuel N. Saridakis
Physics Letters B
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
article

Bohmian quantum cosmology from the Wheeler-DeWitt equation

Charalampos Tzerefos, Gerasimos Kouniatalis, Spyros Basilakos, Emmanuel N. Saridakis
article en

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.

Physics Letters BVol. 875
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), National Technical University of Athens (GR), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR), Academy of Athens (GR), Universidad Católica del Norte (CL), National Observatory of Athens (GR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 32%
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
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Bohmian quantum cosmology from the Wheeler-DeWitt equation — Charalampos Tzerefos, Gerasimos Kouniatalis, et al. · Physics Letters B (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS