The wave function discord
Alexander Vilenkin (Tufts University)
TL;DR
This paper clarifies the differences between Linde's Euclidean path integral approach and the tunneling proposal for the universe's wave function, addressing misconceptions and recent criticisms.
Contribution
It distinguishes between two similar but distinct proposals for the universe's wave function and clarifies misconceptions about their differences and criticisms.
Findings
Linde's Euclidean path integral differs from the tunneling proposal.
Recent criticisms by Hawking and Turok do not apply to the tunneling proposal.
The paper clarifies conceptual distinctions in quantum cosmology.
Abstract
Linde's proposal of a Euclidean path integral with the ``wrong'' sign of Euclidean action is often identified with the tunneling proposal for the wave function of the universe. However, the two proposals are in fact quite different. I illustrate the difference and point out that recent criticism by Hawking and Turok does not apply to the tunneling proposal.
Peer Reviews
No public reviews on file for this paper yet. If you reviewed it on a platform where reviews are public (OpenReview, ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML), you can paste yours below so the community can read it here.
Videos
No videos yet. Explain this paper in a talk, walkthrough, or lecture? Add one.