You are cordially invited to the Applied Mathematics Seminar organized by the Department of Mathematics.
Speaker: Serkan Doruk Hazinedar (Bilkent)
“Quantum Cosmology of f(R,T) Theory”
Abstract: The f(R,T) theory of gravity extends General Relativity by allowing the gravitational Lagrangian to depend on both the Ricci scalar R and the trace of the energy-momentum tensor T, introducing a nonminimal matter-geometry coupling with potentially rich cosmological consequences. Quantum cosmology aims to apply quantum principles to the early universe. In canonical approaches this is typically realized by quantizing the Hamiltonian constraint and obtaining a Wheeler-DeWitt-type equation for the “wave function of the Universe,” often in a minisuperspace reduction such as the FLRW geometry. In this talk, we shall focus on the quantum cosmology of f(R,T) models in a homogeneous and isotropic FLRW minisuperspace, following the canonical formulation developed by Xu, Harko, and Liang [EPJC, 76, 449 (2016)]. We outline how the matter-geometry coupling modifies the effective Lagrangian, canonical momenta, and Hamiltonian structure, leading to a modified Wheeler-DeWitt equation and an altered quantum potential. Specifically, we focus on the class of models f(R,T)=f(R)+θ(a)RT, where θ(a) is a scale-factor-dependent coupling function. In this setting, an appropriate internal time can be naturally identified, so that quantum dynamics admits a Schrödinger-Wheeler-DeWitt description. The associated eigenvalue problem is subsequently studied via perturbation theory, yielding controlled corrections to the spectrum.
Date: Friday, January 02, 2026
Time: 13:20-14:20, GMT+3
Place: ZOOM
This is an online seminar. To request the zoom link, please send a message to yheydarzade@bilkent.edu.tr