The Semiclassical Limit of Loop Quantum Cosmology

The continuum and semiclassical limits of isotropic, spatially flat loop quantum cosmology are discussed, with an emphasis on the role played by the Barbero–Immirzi parameter γ in controlling space-time discreteness. In this way, standard quantum cosmology is shown to be the simultaneous limit γ → 0, j → ∞ of loop quantum cosmology. Here, j is a label of the volume eigenvalues, and the simultaneous limit is technically the same as the classical limit ~ → 0, l → ∞ of angular momentum in quantum mechanics. Possible lessons for semiclassical states at the dynamical level in the full theory of quantum geometry are mentioned.