A non-singular quantum Universe

Work which has been carried out in the field of quantum cosmology is considered from which it is concluded that there has been no confirming evidence that the classical singularity could be avoided, under the influence of quantum gravitational fluctuations. An example is given here of a non-singular quantum cosmological model, the 'dust-filled' Bianchi 1 Universe, quantised following the method of Arnowitt et al (Gravitation. An Introduction to Current Research. p.227. Wiley, New York, 1962) and with Lund's (Phys. Rev.; D8: 3253 (1973)) choice of line co-ordinates. It is felt that the non-singular character of the Bianchi 1 model studied here in the framework of quantum cosmology may be due to the fact that the quantum gravitational fluctuations do not allow the model to be sufficiently localised. Moreover, the singular Einstein-de Sitter models may be considered as very improbable (structurally unstable) models in the ensemble of all anisotropic Bianchi 1 Universe. (U.K.)