Stablizing oscillating universes against quantum decay

TL;DR

This paper examines how quantum vacuum effects influence the stability of oscillating universes, finding that such effects usually do not prevent decay, but fine-tuned states might achieve stability.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of vacuum corrections' impact on oscillating universe stability, highlighting conditions for potential stabilization.

Findings

Vacuum corrections generally do not stabilize oscillating universes.

Stability may occur for specific fine-tuned non-vacuum states.

Quantum effects alone are insufficient for universal stability.

Abstract

We investigate the effect of vacuum corrections, due to the trace anomaly and Casimir effect, on the stability of an oscillating universe with respect to decay by tunneling to the singularity. We find that these corrections do not generally stabilize an oscillating universe. However, stability may be achieved for some specially fine-tuned non-vacuum states.