ON THE SEMICLASSICAL LIMIT OF LOOP QUANTUM COSMOLOGY

Abstract

We consider a k = 0 Friedman–Robertson–Walker (FRW) model within loop quantum cosmology (LQC) and explore the issue of its semiclassical limit. The model is exactly solvable and allows us to construct analytical (Gaussian) coherent-state solutions for each point on the space of classical states. We propose physical criteria that select from these coherent states, those that display semiclassical behavior, and study their properties in the deep Planck regime. Furthermore, we consider generalized squeezed states and compare them to the Gaussian states. The issue of semiclassicality preservation across the bounce is studied and shown to be generic for all the states considered. Finally, we comment on some implications these results have, depending on the topology of the spatial slice. In particular, we consider the issue of the recovery, within our class of states, of a scaling symmetry present in the classical description of the system when the spatial topology is noncompact.